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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


^lyibiiQQUJECIigH 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2010  witii  funding  from 

University  of  Nortii  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/onstaff01opti 


"  '  Company  —  Attention ! '  sliouted  Deck."' 


Pcige  404. 


^Y  OLIVER  oPTlC 

ON  THE  STAFF 


The  Blue  ajid  the   Gray  on  Land 


ON    THE    STAFF 


OLIVER  OPTIC 


AUTHOR  OF       THE   ARMY  AND   NAVY  SERIES  "     '  YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD,  FIRST 

AND  SECOND   SERIES*'  "  THE    BOAT-CLUB   STORIES  "    "  THE  GREAT  WESTERN 

SERIES  "     "  THE    WOODVILLE    STORIES  "    "  THE    ONWARD   AND    UPWARD 

series"    "the   lake   SHORE   SERIES"  "  THE  YACHT-CLUB   SERIES" 

"the    RIVERDALE    stories"      "the    BOAT-BUILDER    SERIES" 

"the     blue      AND     THE     GRAY — AFLOAT"      "a     MISSING 

million"    "a    MILLIONAIRE   AT  SIXTEEN"  "a   YOUNG 

knight-errant"    "sTRANCE    SIGHTS    ABROAD" 

"the   YOUNG   navigators"  "  UP   AND   DOWN 

THE  Nile"  "  Asiatic  breezes"  "  across 
India"  "half  round  the  world" 
etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


BOSTON 
LEE    AND    SHEPARD    PUBLISHERS 

I O     MILK     STREET 
1897 


Copyright,  1896,  by  Lee  and  Shepard 


All  Bights  Reserved 


On  the  Staff 


Typography  by  C.  J.  Peters  <fc  Son,  Boston. 


Presswork  by  Berwick  &,  Smith. 


MY   FRIEND   AND   FELLOW-MEMBER   OF 
THE   BOSTON   CLTJB 

SAMUEL    W.    CREECH,    Jr.,    Esquire 

WHO,    IN   LOOKING   OUT   FOR   HIMSELF, 
ALWAYS    LOOKS   OUT   FOB   ME, 

STfjts  Uolume 

IS    RESPECTFULLY    AND    GRATEFULLY 
DEDICATED. 


602659 


LIST    OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 


"'Company  —  Attention!'  shouted  Deck"  Frontispiece 
Illustrated  Title 

PAGE 

"  The    Troopers    pointed    their    Revolvers    at 

THEIR  Heads" 58 

"Deck  had  his  Revolver  in  his  Hand".     .     .    .     118 

" '  I  AM  HIT,  Corporal;  but  stay  where  You  are  '  "     152 

"  '  Good-Morning,  my  Son,'  said  Major  Lyon  "     .    200 

"  The  Fight  behind  the  Logs  lasted  hardly  more 

than  a  Minute" 289 

"  Captain  Lyon  was  invited  into  the  Tent  "  .    .    338 


PREFACE 


"On  The  Staff"  is  the  fourth  of  the  series 
of  "The  Blue  and  the  Gray  —  on  Land."  Like 
its  predecessors,  it  takes  the  reader  back  to  the 
stirring  events  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  thirty- 
five  years  ago,  before  the  birth  of  a  majority  of 
the  readers  of  this  volume.  The  writer  was  in 
middle  age  then ;  and  though  not  a  participant  in 
the  bloody  events  of  that  time,  he  was  one  of 
those  who  assisted  at  home  in  fighting  the  battles 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  who,  though 
not  entitled  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  those  who 
fought  its  battles  in  the  field,  and  actually  won 
the  re-unification  of  the  States,  were  not  without 
a  mission  in  carrying  forward  the  cause  in  which 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  were  the  actual  workei-s. 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  review  the  part 
taken  in  the  war  by  the  "stay-at-homes,"  who 
were  behind  the  army  and  navy,  and  out  of  per- 

7 


b  PREFACE 

sonal  danger,  but  supported  and  encouraged  those 
in  the  field  and  on  the  sea,  and  to  this  extent 
were  engaged  in  the  terrible  struggle.  The  noble 
and  patriotic  men  in  Washington  and  elsewhere 
who  originated  and  managed  the  financial  system 
of  the  nation,  which  made  it  possible  to  carry  on 
the  war  to  a  successful  issue,  though  they  did  not 
bare  their  bosoms  to  the  bullets  of  the  enemy,  were 
as  truly  elements  of  the  happy  result  of  the  war  as 
the  soldiers  and  sailoi-s  fighting  under  the  flag. 

It  was  shown  in  the  Preface  of  the  preceding 
volume  of  this  series,  that  the  age,  the  arm  of  the 
service,  and  the  rank  of  the  hero  of  the  events 
narrated,  were  not  even  novel  in  the  experience 
of  the  time,  as  proved  by  the  official  records  of  the 
States  which  sent  soldiers  to  the  front.  Though 
Deck  Lyon,  in  the  last  part  of  this  book,  wears 
the  shoulder-straps  of  a  captain,  he  is  still  "  on 
the  staff."  He  has  grown  somewhat  older,  and 
his  character  and  ability  have  been  considerably 
developed;  and  he  is  given  the  lead  in  sundry 
expeditions  on  shore  and  on  the  great  river,  and 
proves  himself  to  be  as  able  in  council  as  in  wield- 
ing his  sabre. 


PREFACE  y 

Deck  is  highly  appreciated  by  the  general  in 
command  of  his  brigade,  and  even  by  the  one  in 
command  of  his  division,  which  may  account  for 
his  rapid  promotions,  though  they  have  been  made 
as  much  on  his  merits  as  by  favor.  Still  his 
latest  rank,  as  given  in  this  volume,  was  not 
exceptional  in  the  army  of  the  Union.  As  a 
captain  on  the  staff  of  the  general  he  was  sev- 
eral times  placed  in  command  of  a  company,  and 
fought  in  this  capacity  in  several  actions,  includ- 
ing the  tremendous  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing. 

The  condition  of  Kentucky  in  the  early  years 
of  the  war  has  been  fully  described  in  the  pre- 
ceding volumes  of  the  series,  and  it  had  only 
temporarily  improved  when  the  Army  of  the  Ohio 
was  sent  from  the  State  to  re-enforce  General 
Grant  on  the  Tennessee.  Guerilla  raids,  and  those 
of  foragers  from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  were  still 
prevalent ;  and  the  first  part  of  the  book  relates  to 
some  of  these  which  the  hero  was  employed  in 
defeating,  as  well  as  a  few  lively  skirmishes  on 
the  river.  His  limited  experience  with  boats  on 
Green  River  and  the  creek  that  flowed  through 
his  father's  plantation  made  him  more  proficient 


10  PREFACE 

in  handling  boats  than  most  of  the  soldiers  of  an 
interior  State ;  and  he  had  a  natural  inclination  in 
that  direction,  as  most  boys  have.  This  knowl- 
edge, small  as  it  was,  made  him  very  useful  at 
times,  especially  after  a  steam-launch  had  been 
captured  by  the  force  to  which  he  belonged. 

His  duty  did  not  confine  him  to  such  compar- 
atively insignificant  affairs;  for  he  marched  with 
the  fourth  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio, 
under  the  command  of  General  Buell,  and  ren- 
dered essential  assistance  in  a  boat  at  the  fording 
of  Duck  River,  which  enabled  General  Nelson  to 
take  part  in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  on 
the  first  day,  as  well  as  the  second,  of  that  bloody 
engagement.  He  marched  with  his  division  to 
the  intrenchments  around  Corinth,  and  was  in 
a  heavy  skirmish  even  while  General  Beauregard 
was  sending  away  his  munitions  and  supplies,  and 
from  whence  stole  off  with  his  army  the  same  night. 

With  my  hearty  thanks  to  the  readers  who  have 
appreciated  and  encouraged  me  in  my  work  for 
over  forty  years,  I  can  only  hope  that  this  book 
will  please  them. 

William  T.  Adams. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 


PAGE 

A  Suspicious  Steamer  in  Sight 15 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Suggestion  of  Lieutenant  Lyon 28 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Harbinger  Fires  the  First  Guns  ,  .     .     .     .      41 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Fight  on  Board  the  Steamer 54 

CHAPTER  V. 
A  Desperate  Action  in  the  Town 67 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Thorough  Defeat  of  the  Enemy 79 

CHAPTER  VII. 
A  Very  Rheumatic  Patient 92 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

On  Board  of  the  Captured  Launch 104 

11 


PAGE 


12  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   IX. 

The  New  Moon  rises  on  the  Hipsy 116 

CHAPTER   X. 
The  Launch  in  a  Tight  Place 129 

CHAPTER  XI. 
An  Impending  Battle  on  the  River 141 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Cannon-Balls  flying  in  the  Air 154 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Steamer  Battle  on  the  River 167 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  Destruction  of  the  New  Moon 180 

CHAPTER  XV. 
At  the  Headquarters  of  the  General  ....     193 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Review  of  the  Situation  in  Kentucky    ....    206 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
An  Expedition  up  the  Cumberland 219 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  Hipsy  under  Fire  Again 232 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
The  End  of  the  Affair  with  the  Flat  ....    245 

CHAPTER   XX. 
In  the  Presence  of  a  Great  Commander    .     .    .    257 


CONTENTS  13 

CHAPTER   XXI.  p^Qj, 

Another  Trip  up  the  Cumberland 269 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Deck  finds  the  River  blockaded 282 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
The  Result  of  the  Fight  on  the  Raft   ....    295 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 
The  Beginning  of  the  Great  Movement      .     .     .    SOT 

CHAPTER   XXV. 
The  Fight  at  Cuffy's  Ferry 320 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Captain  Dexter  Lyon  of  the  Staff 332 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 
The  Long  Delay  at  Duck  River  Bridge     .     .    .    345 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 
An  Up-River  Enterprise  Projected 358 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 
A  Successful  Mission  up  the  Stream 370 

CHAPTER   XXX. 
The  General's  Hurried  March 383 

CHAPTER   XXXI. 
The  First  Day  at  Pittsburg  Landing      ....    395 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  Final  Result  of  the  Great  Battle     .     .     .     408 


14  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   XXXIII.  ^j^^^ 

Captain  Lyon  makes  a  Scouting-Toub    ....    421 

CHAPTER   XXXIV. 
A  Heavy  Skiemish  on  the  Road 434 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 
A  Concealed  Force  under  the  Ridge      ....    447 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 
The  Last  Engagement  at  Corinth 460 


ON   THE    STAFF 


CHAPTER   I 

A    SUSPICIOUS    STEAMER    IN    SIGHT 

"What  are  you  looking  at,  Deck?"  asked 
Lieutenant  Frank  Herndon,  as  both  of  them 
stood  on  a  little  eminence  just  outside  of  the 
considerable  town  of  Barkville,  on  the  Cumber- 
land River,  not  more  than  a  dozen  miles  from 
the  boundary  line  between  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee. 

"  This  river  is  so  crooked,  that  in  following  it 
five  miles  a  fellow  would  get  tied  up  into  a  hard 
knot,"  replied  Lieutenant  Lyon,  who  had  just 
been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant, 
and  placed  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General 
Woodbine,  as  had  also  his  companion  on  the 
hill.     "It  was    a  great  mistake    on  the    part   of 

15 


16  ON  THE   STAFF 

the  maker  of  my  field-glass  that  he  did  not  build 
it  so  that  I  could  see  around  a  corner  with  it." 

"  Perhaps  that  would  have  made  it  convenient 
for  some  occasions,  but  it  would  give  you  a  pair 
of  cross-eyes  in  time ;  and  Miss  Kate  Belthorpe 
would  not  like  the  looks  of  you  as  well  as  she 
did  when  she  saw  you  last,  and  I  reckon  it  was 
constructed  about  right  for  you,"  added  his  com- 
panion on  the  staff  with  a  sly  chuckle. 

Deck  Lyon  wondered  where  his  new  friend 
had  learned  anything  about  the  young  lady  whose 
name  he  mentioned,  and  he  was  not  particularly 
pleased  to  hear  it  lightly  spoken  in  camp ;  for 
she  was  a  sort  of  divinity  to  him,  mounted  on  a 
lofty  pedestal,  where  common  people  might  look 
at  her  through  a  smoked  glass,  but  should  not 
irreverently  speak  her  name. 

"Where  did  you  ever  hear  of  that  young 
lady  ?  "  demanded  Deck,  dropping  his  glass,  and 
looking  into  the  face  of  his  fellow-officer. 

"  Don't  pucker  about  it,  for  I  have  heard  her 
spoken  of  only  with  the  highest  respect;  and  the 
troopers  of  the  Riverlawn  Cavalry  worship  her 
at   a   distance    for   your   sake.    Deck,"    answered 

m 

HcU 


A   SUSPICIOUS    STEAMER   IN   SIGHT  17 

Lieutenant  Herndon.  "  I  have  been  trying  to 
get  acquainted  with  all  the  officers  of  the  force, 
and  the  men  for  that  matter;  for  if  we  get  into 
hot  water,  and  I  have  to  deliver  orders  to  them, 
I  wish  them  to  loiow  me.  They  all  want  to  talk 
to  me  about  you;  and  I  don't  wonder  at  it.  But 
what  were  you  looking  at  so  steadily  with  your 
field-glass  ?  and  why  do  you  wish  you  could  see 
around  a  corner  with  it?"  continued  Lieutenant 
Herndon,  changing  the  subject  of  the  conversa- 
tion before  Deck  had  time  to  defend  himself 
with  anything  but  a  blush. 

"  Do  you  see  that  sharp  bend  in  the  river 
about  a  mile  below  the  town,  Frank  ? "  asked 
Deck.  The  two  staff-officers  had  become  well 
enough  acquainted  to  di'op  all  formal  address 
when  they  were  not  on  duty. 

"  I  see  it ;  and  I  know  it  as  well  as  I  know 
my  own  mother.  But  it  looks  to  me  just  as  it 
always  did,  and  I  can  see  it  without  a  glass." 

"  So  can  I ;  but  once  in  a  while  there  is  some- 
thing more  than  the  bend  to  be  seen,"  answered 
Deck. 

"What  is  it?     The  ghost  of   the  Confederate 


18  ON   THE   STAFF 

army,  which  our  general  thought  might  be  ex- 
pected to  appear  somewhere  in  this  vicinity  on 
its  way  to  Bowling  Green,  intending  to  replenish 
its  exhausted  supplies  on  the  march  ?  " 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort.  Inside  the  general's 
tent  we  know  that  the  Confederates  under  Crit- 
tenden have  gone  to  Nashville.  Besides,  if  the 
army  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  Cumberland, 
they  could  not  get  across,  unless  they  have 
brought  up  steamboats  for  the  purpose." 

"  But  Crittenden  has  had  time  to  get  to 
Nashville  before  now,  unless  his  army  starved  to 
death  on  the  way,  and  time  enough  to  send  a 
force  up  the  river  to  this  locality,"  argued  Lieu- 
tenant Herndon. 

"  They  would  not  go  to  Bowling  Green  this 
way.  If  they  come  here  at  all,  it  is  only  to  pick 
up  provisions,  horses  and  mules ;  for  they  lost 
about  all  the  animals  they  had  at  Beech-Grove 
Camp,"  returned  Deck. 

"  But  you  don't  tell  me  what  you  have  seen, 
and  I  don't  see  anything  unusual  about  the  bend," 
said  Lieutenant  Herndon  somewhat   impatiently. 

"I  was  looking  in  the    direction  of   the  bend 


A   SUSPICIOUS    STEAMER   IN   SIGHT  19 

half  an  hour  before  you  came  on  the  hill,  Frank," 
added  Deck.  "  Three  times  I  have  seen  some- 
thing that  looked  like  the  bow  of  a  steamboat 
advance  just  far  enough  for  me  to  observe  it ; 
but  it  fell  back  in  the  same  instant." 

"  The  bow  of  a  steamboat !  "  exclaimed  Frank. 
"I  did  not  suppose  there  was  a  steamer  within 
fifty  miles  of  Barkville.  But  this  may  be  some- 
thing serious ;  and  don't  you  think  we  had  better 
inform  General  Woodbine  in  regard  to  what  you 
have  seen.  Deck  ?  " 

"  But  I  don't  know  that  it  is  a  steamer  yet. 
It  may  be  nothing  but  a  boat  with  fishermen  on 
board,"  replied  Deck. 

"You  are  something  of  a  nautical  fellow,  and 
I  should  think  you  would  know  a  fisherman's 
boat  from  the  bow  of  a  steamer,"  said  Frank 
with  a  laugh. 

"I  am  not  a  nautical  fellow,  though  I  can 
handle  a  boat ;  but  I  could  not  see  it  well  enough 
to  make  out  what  it  was.  Where  is  your  glass, 
Frank  ?     Perhaps  it  is  a  better  one  than  mine." 

"■  I  left  it  in  my  tent,  for  I  have  no  occasion 
to  use  it  when  loafing  about  the  camp." 


20  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  am  of  the  opinion  that  there  is  a  steamer 
lurking  behind  that  bend  on  the  Tennessee  side 
of  the  river,  but  I  am  not  sure  of  it;  I  may 
be  mistaken.  Wait  till  I  see  it  again,  and  then 
I  think  I  can  decide  what  it  is,"  said  Deck.  "I 
don't  want  to  get  up  a  false  alarm,  and  turn  out 
the  whole  battalion  for  nothing." 

"What  should  a  steamer  be  doing  there,  hid- 
ing behind  that  bend,  unless  she  means  mis- 
chief?" asked  Frank. 

"  If  there  is  a  steamer  there,  that  is  precisely 
what  she  does  mean.  But  I  will  wager  a  pint 
of  molasses  against  a  quart  of  vinegar  the  people 
on  board  of  her  do  not  know  there  is  a  Union 
force  near  the  town.  Of  course  I  don't  know 
what  she  is,  or  where  she  is  bound ;  but  if  she 
is  a  Confederate  craft,  with  a  company  of  the 
enemy  on  board.  Captain  Batterson,  with  his  four 
twelve-poundeis,  can  knock  her  all  to  pieces  if 
she  comes  this  way." 

"  If  there  is  any  steamer  there,  she  is  cer- 
tainly Confederate ;  for  the  river  turns  to  the 
south  just  beyond  that  bend,  and  she  must  have 
come  up  from  Tennessee." 


A   SUSPICIOUS    STEAMER   IN   SIGHT  21 

"  There  it  is  again !  "  exclaimed  Deck,  some- 
what excited,  as  he  brought  his  glass  to  bear 
on  the  bend.  "She  has  come  out  farther  than 
before,  and  there  is  a  man  in  uniform  at  the 
bow  looking  up  the  river  with  a  field-glass." 

Lieutenant  Herndon  took  the  glass  that  Deck 
handed  him,  and  looked  at  the  object  of  interest 
till  it  backed  out  of  sight  again. 

"That  is  all  plain  enough  to  me,"  said  Frank 
as  he  returned  the  glass.  "  I  have  no  doubt  that 
is  a  steamer." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  now,  for  she  showed  more  of 
herself  than  she  has  done  before,"  added  Deck. 
"IJvTow  one  of  us  must  go  to  the  general,  and 
inform  him  what  we  have  seen." 

"  All  right ;  I  will  go,  while  you  will  stay  on 
the  hill  and  watch  her  if  she  comes  out,"  replied 
Frank. 

"  Very  well ;  that  is  the  right  thing  to  do ;  " 
and  his  companion  started  down  the  hill  on  the 
run.  "Frank!"  called  Deck  ;  and  his  compan- 
ion returned  to  the  top  of  the  hill. 

"Excuse  me,  Frank,  but  I  suggest  that  you 
had  better  not  run.     If  you  do,  the  officers  and 


22  ON   THE   STAFF 

men  will  suspect  there  is  an  alarm  coming,  which 
may  bother  the  general,"  said  Deck. 

"  Thank  you,  Deck ;  I  will  move  to  the  tune 
of  '  Hark !  from  the  tombs,'  "  returned  the  lieu- 
tenant; and  he  then  proceeded  on  his  mission  at 
a  moderate  pace. 

Deck  Lyon  took  his  handkerchief  from  the 
breast  of  his  coat,  and  carefully  cleaned  the  lenses 
of  his  glass,  which  he  had  not  thought  to  do 
before.  He  had  put  it  together  again  before  the 
bow  of  the  steamer  appeared  once  more.  He 
found  that  he  could  see  much  better  with  the 
glass  than  before.  The  man  observed  on  the 
bow  was  evidently  an  officer,  probably  the  com- 
mander of  the  force  on  board,  if  there  was  any. 
It  was  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
the  watcher  on  the  hill  wondered  if  he  intended 
to  engage  in  a  night  expedition. 

The  bow  of  the  steamer  soon  advanced  again ; 
and  this  time  Deck  saw  the  front  of  her  furnaces, 
the  doors  of  which  were  open,  and  cast  a  bright 
light  on  the  forecastle.  The  officer  was  there 
with  his  field-glass,  intently  scrutinizing  the 
Kentucky  shore  of  the  river.     This  time  a  new 


A   SUSPICIOUS   STEAMER   IN    SIGHT  23 

object  came  into  view  which  had  very  nearly 
escaped  the  observation  of  the  lieutenant  on  the 
hill,  for  it  was  covered  with  a  growth  of  wood 
that  obstructed  his  vision. 

The  hill  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
length  at  its  summit,  but  was  not  more  than  two 
hundred  feet  in  width.  It  extended  parallel  with 
the  river,  and  only  a  few  rods  from  it,  with  a 
road  between  it  and  the  stream.  The  elevation 
had  been  a  pleasure-ground  for  the  people  of 
the  town,  with  something  like  a  road  in  the 
middle  of  the  height,  which  had  either  been  cut 
away,  or  trodden  out  when  the  young  trees 
were  just  coming  out  of  the  ground. 

Deck  had  observed  that  the  officer  in  the 
bow  of  the  steamer  was  directing  his  glass  to  a 
point  below  the  town ;  and  this  caused  him  to 
change  his  place,  and  search  the  banks  of  the 
stream.  Then  he  discovered  a  boat,  containing 
three  men,  two  of  whom  were  rowing,  while 
another  in  the  stern-sheets  was  waving  a  white 
flag.  He  was  under  the  shadow  of  the  high 
Kentucky  bank,  where  he  could  not  be  seen 
from  the  town.     This  was  doubtless  a  signal. 


24  ON   THE   STAFF 

Lieutenant  Herndon  had  been  gone  half  an 
hour  when  the  watcher  on  the  hill  discovered 
the  boat,  as  he  found  by  consulting  his  watch. 
But  the  steamer  fell  back  after  her  last  ad- 
vance ;  and  Deck  concluded  that  it  was  the 
current  that  governed  her  movements  to  some 
extent,  for  she  could  only  hold  her  position  by 
using  her  steam.  But  she  soon  came  in  sight 
again,  and  the  observer  then  discovered  that 
two  field-pieces  had  been  moved  forward  for 
use. 

He  had  hardly  made  this  discovery  before  he 
heard  a  noise  near  him ;  and,  looking  behind  him, 
he  saw  the  head  of  the  light  battery  moving 
very  slowly  up  the  central  road.  Only  the  dri- 
vers were  mounted,  and  even  Captain  Batterson 
was  on  foot.  As  soon  as  the  guns  were  brought 
to  the  head  of  the  road  they  were  unlimbered, 
and  the  drivers  retired  with  the  horses.  Gen- 
eral Woodbine  must  have  accepted  the  report  of 
his  staff-officers  without  question. 

"  Where  is  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  Lyon  ?  " 
asked  Captain  Batterson,  as  he  went  forward  to 
the  position  Deck  had  taken. 


A   SUSPICIOUS   STEAMER   IN   SIGHT  25 

"None  in  sight  just  now,  Captain;  but  there 
is  a  steamer  behind  the  bend  of  the  river  you 
see  about  a  mile  distant,"  replied  Deck  as  he 
saluted  the  officer.  "  Three  or  four  times  she 
has  advanced  far  enough  for  me  to  see  an  of- 
ficer with  a  field-glass  examining  the  river  on 
this  side.  Just  now  I  discovered  a  boat  under 
our  side  of  the  bank,  in  which  was  a  person 
making  signals  with  a  white  flag  to  the  one  at 
the  bow  of  the  steamer." 

"Can  you  make  out  the  object  of  the  expedi- 
tion? "  inquired  the  chief  of  the  artillery. 

"I  can  only  guess  at  it.  I  fancy  it  is  a  raid 
to  obtain  provisions  for  the  starving  army  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river,"  replied  Deck.  "The 
supplies  for  General  Woodbine's  force  arrived 
here  yesterday,  and  they  may  have  heard  about 
them  on  the  other  side." 

"  I  am  directed  not  to  fire  a  gun  till  I  re- 
ceive orders  from  the  general ;  but  I  am  here 
with  my  battery  ready  for  business." 

"  The  steamer  has  two  field-pieces  mounted 
on  her  forecastle,"  added  Deck.  "  Ah,  here 
comes  the  general  himself !  " 


26  ON   THE   STAFF 

The  commander  of  the  force  was  on  foot,  and 
the  artillerymen  made  way  for  him. 

"Lieutenant  Lyon,  you  have  made  an  impor- 
tant discovery,"  said  the  general,  as  Captain 
Batterson  saluted,  and  joined  his  men.  "  You 
are  always  on  the  lookout." 

"  It  was  only  an  accident ;  I  have  been  up 
here  every  day  since  we  arrived.  Yesterday  I 
saw  something  down  the  river  I  wished  to  ex- 
amine with  my  glass,  and  I  brought  it  up  to- 
day," replied  Deck.  "  The  steamer  is  in  sight 
again,  General!"  exclaimed  Deck  as  the  craft 
advanced. 

"  Your  report  was  entirely  correct,  as  it  al- 
ways is  when  you  assert  anything.  I  have  sent 
your  second  company  over  into  the  woods  below 
the  town;  and  if  the  enemy  land  here,  the  first 
company  with  the  Marion  Cavalry  will  attack 
them  on  this  side,  and  we  shall  have  them  sur- 
rounded, or  nearly  so,"  said  the  general. 

"  Then  the  enemy  will  all  retreat  to  their 
steamer,  and  escape,"  suggested  Deck.  "  Per- 
haps you  have  not  been  to  the  top  of  this  hill 
before,   General." 


A   SUSPICIOUS   STEAJVIER   IN   SIGHT  27 

"  You  have  something  in  your  head,  Lieuten- 
ant ;  let  it  out  at  once  !  " 

"  I  was  never  in  the  habit  of  advising  my 
superior  officers,"  replied  Deck. 

But  General  Woodbine  insisted  that  he  sug- 
gest any  improvement  on  his  plan ;  and  the 
young  lieutenant  led  him  over  to  the  verge  of 
the  hill  by  the  side  of  the  Cumberland. 


28  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   II 

THE    SUGGESTION    OF    LIEUTENANT   LYON 

The  suspicious  steamer  advanced  once  more 
just  as  the  general  appeared  on  the  hill.  The 
commander  declared  that  he  was  confident  the 
town  of  Barkville  would  be  the  object  of  the  at- 
tack. The  officer  with  the  field-glass,  and  espe- 
cially the  two  cannon  on  the  forecastle,  made  it 
plain  enough  that  she  brought  Confederate  for- 
agers or  guerillas  up  the  river ;  and  her  only 
purpose  could  be  to  plunder  the  rich  country 
along  this  portion  of  the  river. 

In  horses  and  mules  Kentucky  was  doubt- 
less the  most  plentifully  supplied  of  any  of  the 
Southern  States ;  for  the  raising  of  them  was 
one  of  its  principal  industries.  As  a  rule,  the 
planters  and  farmers  had  abundant  supplies  of 
grain,  meat,  and  other  domestic  produce ;  though 
a  portion  of  the  region  near  the  Cumberland 
River  had  been  wholly  or  partially  depleted  by 


THE   SUGGESTION   OF   LIEUTENANT   LYON      29 

ruffian  bands  from  both  sides  of  it,  as  well  as 
by  the  raids  of  regular  Confederate  forces. 

"Lieutenant  Herndon  reported  a  boat  on  this 
side  of  the  river  to  me,  with  a  man  in  it  who 
was  waving  a  white  flag,  evidently  a  signal  to 
the  officer  of  the  steamer,"  said  the  general,  as 
they  walked  towards  the  verge  of  the  hill. 

"  You  can  see  it  for  yourself,  General,"  re- 
plied Deck,  as  he  pointed  through  an  opening 
in  the  trees.  "  There  is  the  boat  just  under 
the  Kentucky  bank,  and  the  man  in  it  is  still 
waving  his  signal." 

The  boat  could  be  plainly  seen  without  the  aid 
of  the  glass.  It  kept  well  under  the  high  bank, 
and  was  rowed  by  two  negroes ;  but  the  man  with 
the  flag  was  white,  and  was  plainly  trying  not  to 
to  be  seen  by  any  person  in  the  town,  which  was 
on  lower  ground  than  the  land  at  each  side  of  it. 
The  curve  of  the  bank  concealed  him  from  obser- 
vation in  the  village  ;  but  from  the  height  where 
the  Union  officers  stood,  it  could  be  distinctly 
seen.  The  general  looked  at  the  boat  longer 
than  seemed  necessary  to  determine  that  it  was  a 
boat  containing  a  white  man  and  two  negroes. 


30  ON    THE    STAFF 

"  Did  you  see  that  boat  come  from  the  direction 
of  the  steamer,  Lieutenant  ? "  he  asked,  as  he 
lowered  his  glass. 

"  I  did  not,"   replied  Deck. 

"  For  the  reason  that  it  did  not  come  from  that 
direction,"  added  General  Woodbine. 

"I  don't  quite  understand  you,  sir." 

"All  the  steamers  carry  keel  boats  on  their 
poles,  something  more  substantial  than  the  bateau 
in  which  the  man  waves  the  signal.  That  craft 
belongs  in  the  town,  or  near  it,"  replied  the  com- 
mander. "  That  man  lives  in  Barkville,  or  has 
been  staying  there.  He  is  engineering  the  move- 
ments of  the  steamer,  whatever  they  are.  That 
is  my  opinion,  though  I  may  be  wrong." 

"Then  he  knows  about  the  supplies  which  were 
left  here  a  few  days  ago  for  your  trains." 

"  I  don't  believe  he  does  ;  if  he  did,  he  would 
know  there  is  a  force  of  Union  soldiere  here,  and 
in  that  case  he  would  not  wave  his  flag  so  confi- 
dently for  the  approach  of  the  steamer,  if  that  is 
what  it  means,"  replied  the  general,  still  observ- 
ing the  bateau. 

"  He  could  not  live  in  the  town  without  know- 


THE    SUGGESTION    OF    LIEUTENANT    LYON       31 

ing  about  the  supplies  and  your  command,"  sug- 
gested Deck.  "Excuse  me,  General,  but  your 
theory  is  a  little  puzzling  to  me." 

"  I  don't  quite  understand  the  matter  myself. 
The  man  may  live  in  the  country  over  by  the 
bend.  Perhaps  the  signal  does  not  mean  what  we 
have  been  supposing.  If  the  fellow  in  the  boat 
is  aware  that  our  force  is  in  camp  half  a  mile 
from  the  village,  the  white  flag  must  mean  for 
the  steamer  not  to  approach  the  town.  However, 
we  cannot  solve  the  puzzle ;  and  we  might  as  well 
prepare  for  action,  whether  we  are  called  upon  to 
defend  the  town  or  not,"  said  the  general,  as  he 
walked  towards  the  river. 

"  You  have  already  sent  the  second  company 
of  the  Riverlawns  over  into  the  woods  the  other 
side  of  the  place,"  continued  Deck,  attending  the 
commander  to  the  verge  of  the  hill. 

"  Precisely  so ;  and  at  a  signal  from  the  hill 
north  of  the  road  on  which  our  camp  is  located. 
Captain  Truman  will  gallop  into  the  village,  while 
Major  Lyon,  commanding  the  first  company  and 
the  Marion  Cavalry,  will  enter  the  town  by  the 
road  from  the  camp.     The  signal  to  move  will 


32  ON    THE    STAFF 

not  be  given  till  the  force  from  the  steamer  have 
all  landed,  and  are  well  away  from  the  river. 
The  first  company  will  get  to  the  levee  as  soon 
as  the  enemy  have  landed,  and  thus  cut  off  a 
retreat,  if  it  comes  to  that.  But  you  have  an  idea 
in  your  head,  and  you  have  proved  yourself  to  be 
a  strategist  on  more  than  one  occasion,  and  I 
want  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

"I  am  not  a  strategist.  General  Woodbine," 
protested  Deck,  blushing  like  a  maiden  of  sixteen. 
"  I  have  never  studied  the  art  of  war  as  you  have, 
though  I  have  read  a  few  books  on  military  sub- 
jects." 

"Never  mind  that  now;  though  strategy,  like 
chess-playing,  sometimes  comes  by  nature.  What 
is  your  idea.  Lieutenant?"  demanded  the  com- 
mander rather  impatiently. 

"  When  the  enemy  have  landed  from  the 
steamer,  of  couise  they  will  hurry  into  the  town 
to  pick  up  whatever  they  can  find,"  replied  Deck, 
delivering  himself  with  energy,  stimulated  to  do 
so  by  the  impatient  remark  of  the  commander. 
"  As  soon  as  they  are  fairly  in  the  town,  our  force 
will  attack  them,  and  ride  them  down ;   and  then 


THE   SUGGESTION    OF   LIEUTENANT   LYON      33 

they  will  retreat  to  the  steamer,  and  get  away  as 
soon  as  possible." 

"  Quite  correct ;  and  that  is  just  the  way  the 
affair  will  work.  But  the  first  company  will  cut 
off  the  retreat  to  the  boat,"   added  the  general. 

"Then  the  guard  left  on  the  steamer,  for  I 
suppose  a  guard  will  be  on  her  deck,  will  back 
her  from  the  levee,  and  pick  up  their  men  where- 
ever  the  first  company  have  driven  them,"  Deck 
explained. 

"I  don't  imagine  that  the  boat  brings  more  than 
one  company,  and  we  shall  outnumber  them  three 
to  one,  and  they  are  likely  to  be  all  captured." 

"  I  should  suppose  that  would  be  the  final 
result ;  but  while  our  men  are  securing  the  prison- 
ers, the  steamer  will  back  away  from  the  levee, 
and  escape  down  the  river,"  suggested  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  But  I  have  posted  Captain  Batterson's  battery 
on  this  hill  to  provide  for  that  very  emergency; 
and  he  can  knock  the  steamer  all  to  pieces  in 
five  minutes,"  replied  the  general  with  a  smile ; 
for  he  believed  he  had  upset  all  the  objections 
of  his  staff-officer. 


34  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  steamer  would 
be  a  very  useful  plaything  for  you,  though  you 
do  not  yet  know  what  orders  will  come  for  your 
command,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  smiling  with 
his  superior.  "If  you  should  be  disposed  to 
make  a  raid  into  Tennessee,  as  you  suggested  on 
the  march  yesterday,  that  boat  would  be  very 
convenient  for  you  to  have." 

"You  are  right.  Deck,  as  you  are  almost  al- 
ways," said  the  commander,  coming  down  to  fa- 
miliar terms  with  his  subordinate.  "  We  must 
not  sink  that  steamer,  or  let  her  run  away.  Your 
idea  comes  in  now;  what  is  it?  " 

"  Perhaps  you  have  not  seen  that  there  is  a 
road  between  this  hill  and  the  river?" 

"I  have  not,"  answered  the  commander,  as 
he  looked  over  the  bluff  of  the  elevation,  which 
was  a  sheer  precipice,  and  Deck  did  the  same. 
"  I  have  not  looked  over  this  locality,  or  even 
been  into  the  town.  An  officer  of  the  Home 
Guard  here  came  to  the  camp  to  inform  me  that 
our  supplies  had  arrived,  consigned  to  him,  and 
he  had  stored  them  in  the  building  occupied  by 
the  post-office.     I  was  not  feeling  very  well  this 


THE   SUGGESTION   OF   LIEUTENANT   LYON      35 

morning,  and  remained  in  my  tent  till  Herndon 
came  to  me  with  the  news  obtained  on  this  hill. 
I  see  the  road,  and  it  forks  into  the  one  by  the 
camp  just  above  it.  But  what  about  the  road, 
Lieutenant  ?  " 

"I  respectfully  suggest  that  we  had  better 
make  use  of  it,  General,"  replied  Deck,  veiy 
humble  in  his  manner,  to  avoid  being  thought 
"  wiser  than  the  law  allows." 

"Use  it  for  what?"  demanded  the  commander 
rather  brusquely.  "Speak  out  just  what  you 
mean,  as  though  you  were  talking  to  Herndon, 
and  not  to  me." 

"  If  I  were  in  command,  I  should  send  a  squad 
of  twenty  men  under  Lieutenant  Knox  from  the 
second  platoon  of  the  first  company,  all  mounted, 
in  single  file,  to  the  inward  curve  of  the  bluff 
below  us,  where  they  could  not  be  seen  by  the 
steamer's  people,"  returned  Deck,  speaking  with 
a  sort  of  desperation ;  for  by  this  time  the  suspi- 
cious craft  had  come  out  into  the  river  in  plain 
sight  a  mile  distant. 

"  Go  on.  Lieutenant !  "  said  the  general  sharply, 
as  he  saw  the  steamer  heading  down  the  river. 


36  ON   THE    STAFF 

"Knox  should  have  with  him,  on  foot,  Sam 
Drye  and  Dick  Beckland,  both  of  whom  have 
been  engineers  on  a  steamer,"  continued  the  lieu- 
tenant, hurrying  his  speech  as  the  occasion  seemed 
to  require.  "  As  soon  as  the  enemy  had  all 
landed,  and  were  well  away  from  the  levee, 
Knox  should  advance  with  his  squad  by  twos, 
and  dash  on  the  deck  of  the  steamer,  taking  pos- 
session of  her.  The  two  engineers  with  him 
should  spring  to  the  throttle,  having  cast  ofE  the 
fasts  on  their  way,  and  then  back  the  boat  away 
from  the  shore." 

"  Do  you  expect  the  squad  to  ride  from  the 
levee  to  the  deck  of  the  steamer?"  asked  the 
commander. 

"  I  do,  sir ;  these  steamers  have  a  gangway 
about  six  feet  wide,  as  I  have  often  seen  on  the 
Green  River,"  replied  Deck,  without  abating  his 
warmth  and  energy. 

General  Woodbine  looked  for  a  moment  in  si- 
lence upon  the  enemy's  steamer  as  she  rounded 
into  the  river,  evidently  considering  the  plan  just 
suggested  by  the  young  officer. 

"  Your  plan  does  not  interfere  at  all  with  mine. 


THE   SUGGESTION    OF   LIEUTENANT   LYON      37 

and  is  only  an  addition  to  it.  Therefore  I  shall 
adopt  it;  but  you  must  conduct  the  affair  your- 
self, or  at  least  be  present  at  its  execution,"  said 
the  commander.  "  You  shall  manage  it  yourself, 
Lieutenant  Lyon,  and  choose  your  own  time  to 
execute  it ;  in  a  word,  I  shall  give  you  no 
ordei's.  You  may  carry  my  order  to  Lieutenant 
Knox,  and  no  call  will  be  made  upon  you  for 
further  duty  till  this  affair  is  finished.  I  shall 
remain  on  this  hill  during  the  skirmish,  and  you 
will  send  Lieutenant  Herndon  to  me." 

"  Herndon  is  here,  General,"  added  Deck,  as 
he  pointed  his  field-glass  to  the  steamer.  "She 
has  some  cavalry  on  board,"  said  he.  "There 
is  at  least  a  full  company  of  infantry  on  her  hur- 
ricane deck,  and  perhaps  as  many  more  in  her 
saloon." 

"  The  more  the  merrier,"  added  the  commander; 
and  then  Deck  hastened  to  the  camp  with  the 
order  for  Life  Knox,  which  he  delivered  at  once, 
and  told  him  to  select  his  force  of  twenty  men. 

He  then  went  to  Captain  Gordon,  and  repeated 
his  orders  to  him.  The  two  engineers  were  de- 
tailed for  duty,  and  Lieutenant  Knox  mustered 


38  ON    THE   STAFF 

the  men  he  had  selected  from  his  own  platoon. 
Deck  mounted  his  horse  after  he  had  obtained 
liis  arms  from  the  tent. 

"  What  are  we  uns  up  to  now,  Deck  ?  "  asked 
Life. 

"  Speak  English,  now  that  you  are  a  lieuten- 
ant, my  brave  Kentuckian,"  replied  the  staff-offi- 
cer, who  had  been  doing  what  he  could  to  improve 
the  speech  of  his  friend  and  intense  admirer. 
"Don't  say  'we  uns'  any  more." 

"  But  I  forget  about  it,"  replied  the  stalwart 
fellow.     "What  are  we  about  now?" 

"  That  is  better ;  and  I  will  tell  you  all  about 
it  in  due  time.  We  are  going  to  the  road  on  the 
other  side  of  the  hill.  March  in  single  file,  and 
hug  the  precipice  as  it  were  your  Kentucky 
sweetheart.  Life,  all  the  time  you  remain  there, 
and  it  may  be  for  an  hour  or  more." 

He  rode  to  the  place  indicated,  and  stationed 
the  squad  there.  Life  declared  that  he  had  no 
sweetheart,  and  never  had  one,  and  he  did  not 
know  anything  about  hugging;  but  he  would 
keep  every  trooper  close  to  the  bluff,  if  that  was 
what  the  staff-officer  meant. 


THE   SUGGESTION    OF   LIEUTENANT    LYON      39 

"Lieutenant  Lyon!  "  called  Herndon  from  the  ^ 
top  of  the  precipice. 

"  Here,  Lieutenant  Herndon  !  "  replied  Deck. 

"  General  Woodbine  desires  you  to  ride  up 
here,"  added  the  other  staff-officer.  "  Come  at 
once !  " 

Deck  galloped  up  the  road  at  Ceph's  best 
speed  to  the  inclined  plane  that  led  to  the  top 
of  the  hill. 

"  The  steamer  has  stopped  her  paddles  half  a 
mile  from  here,"  said  the  commander,  when  Deck 
saluted  him.  "I  may  have  to  change  all  my 
plans,  and  I  want  you  here  till  I  ascertain  what 
the  steamer  intends  to  do.  Can  the  officer  in 
command  on  board  of  her  have  discovered  that 
there  is  a  force  here  ?  " 

"  I  should  say  that  was  quite  impossible ;  for 
there  is  the  boat  with  the  signalman  in  it  just 
where  it  was  before,"  replied  the  lieutenant. 
"The  steamer  keeps  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  and  the  man  in  the  bateau  seems  to  be 
afraid  of  being  seen  from  the  town." 

"The  steamer  starts  again!"  exclaimed  the 
general.     "  I  was  afraid  she  might  land  her  armed 


40  ON   THE   STAFF 

force  below  the  town,  and  I  wanted  to  be  ready 
for  it.  All  right  now,  for  she  is  headed  directly 
for  the  levee.  You  may  return  when  ready  to 
the  road  below." 

But  Deck  was  in  no  hurry,  as  he  had  his  force 
in  position ;  and  he  remained  on  the  hill  a  while 
longer. 


THE   HARBINGER   FIRES   THE   FIRST   GUNS     41 


CHAPTER   III 

THE   HARBINGER    FIRES   THE   FIRST    GUNS 

The  stopping  of  the  suspicious  steamer  had 
greatly  disturbed  General  Woodbine.  There  was 
a  regular  steamboat-landing  in  front  of  Barkville, 
and  the  commander  had  expected  that  the  ap- 
proaching boat  would  come  to  it  if  she  made  a 
landing  at  any  point  in  this  portion  of  the  river. 
But  there  was  a  creek  half  a  mile  below  the 
town ;  and  he  had  been  afraid  she  would  run 
into  the  mouth  of  it,  and  would  land  her  force 
there. 

Probably  the  man  in  the  little  flatboat  had 
come  out  of  this  small  tributary ;  for  Deck,  who 
had  been  looking  down  the  river  for  at  least  an 
hour  before  he  discovered  the  boat,  had  seen  no 
craft  of  any  kind  leave  the  town  landing.  If 
the  man  lived  in  the  village  he  could  not  have 
helped  knowing  that  a  battalion  of  Union  troops 
had  arrived  in  the  vicinity  the  evening  before. 


42  ON  THE   STAFF 

The  landing-place  of  the  town  was  like  any- 
similar  one  on  the  Western  rivers.  It  was  a 
sandy  beach,  extending  rather  abruptly  down  to 
the  water's  edge  at  any  stage  of  the  stream, 
which  was  unusually  high  at  the  present  time  on 
account  of  the  recent  heavy  rain-storms.  When 
a  steamer  made  a  landing  at  the  town,  she  ran 
diagonally  on  the  beach  from  down  stream,  com- 
ing about  if  she  was  descending  the  river  in  order 
to  do  so;  for  the  current  contributed  in  holding 
her  in  position.  If  she  came  on  a  landing  from 
the  opposite  direction,  the  flow  of  the  stream 
would  swing  her  around,  and  dislodge  her  from 
the  bottom  on  which  she  rested  her  bow. 

"  Is  everything  working  right.  General  Wood- 
bine?" asked  Deck,  after  he  had  looked  over  the 
situation. 

"  So  far  as  I  can  see,  it  is,"  replied  the  com- 
mander. "  I  have  a  trusty  man  on  the  hill  by 
the  camp  to  give  the  signal  for  the  advance  of 
the  second  company,  and  I  have  only  to  send 
Herndon  with  the  order  for  Major  Lyon  to  move. 
I  don't  see  how  there  can  be  any  slip-up  in  the 
arrangements  we  have  made." 


THE   HARBINGER   FIRES   THE    FIRST   GUNS     43 

"  Of  course  Captain  Truman  will  be  on  the 
lookout  for  your  signal." 

"  I  suggested  to  the  captain  that  he  had  better 
have  Sergeant  Yowell  climb  a  tree  where  he  could 
distinctly  see  the  camp-hill.  The  people  of  the 
village  seem  to  have  found  out  that  something 
is  the  matter ;  for  they  are  gathering  on  the  shore, 
watching  the  steamer." 

At  this  moment  Lieutenant  Herndon  came  up 
to  the  general  and  saluted  him,  evidently  with 
a  message  or  an  inquiry. 

"  The  artillery  sentinel  at  the  head  of  the  in- 
cline has  just  stopped  a  committee  of  three  from 
the  town,  all  mounted;  and  their  horses  look  as 
though  they  had  been  in  a  hurry,"  said  the  staff- 
officer. 

"I  am  not  a  Connecticut  Yankee,  though  my 
father  was,  but  I  can  guess  what  they  want," 
replied  the  commander,  as  he  sent  for  his  horse, 
on  which  he  had  ridden  up  from  the  camp.  "  I 
will  meet  them  where  they  are ;  for  I  should  like 
to  have  them  quiet  the  people,  and  prevent  them 
from  doing  any  foolish  thing." 

He  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  over  to  the  in- 


44  ON   THE   STAFF 

cline,  where  the  committee  awaited  him.  It  was 
Sunday;  and  the  visitors  had  doubtless  been  to 
church,  for  they  were  all  dressed  in  their  best 
clothes,  and  wore  immaculate  dickeys.  They  all 
took  off  their  hats  to  the  commander,  and  treated 
him  with  the  most  profound  deference. 

"  May  I  ask  if  you  are  the  commander  of  the 
forces  in  this  county?"  asked  the  most  dignified 
of  the  three. 

"  I  am  in  command  of  the  battalion  of  Union 
troops  at  present  in  this  vicinity,"  replied  the 
general,  bowing  to  the  speaker. 

"  There  is  a  steamer  approaching  the  town, 
which  appears  to  have  a  military  force  on  board," 
continued  the  chairman. 

"  I  am  aware  of  the  fact ;  and  as  my  time  is 
valuable  just  now,  I  must  beg  you  to  come  at 
once  to  the  point,  and  state  the  object  of  your 
visit,"  added  the  commander  rather  sharply. 

"  We  have  a  company  of  Home  Guards  in  the 
place,  and  "  — 

"  Don't  call  them  out !  "  said  the  general  very 
decidedly. 

"We  were  about  to  ring  the  church  bells  to"  — 


THE   HARBINGER   FIRES   THE   FIRST   GUNS     45 

"  Don't  do  it !  "  protested  the  commander. 
"Who  and  what  are  you,  gentlemen?" 

"We  are  the  town  council,  of  which  I  have 
the  honor  to  be  the  chairman,"  said  the  most 
dignified. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  but  I  have  no  time  to 
spare,"  said  the  general,  who  was  still  polite  ; 
but  his  manner  had  become  rather  brusque  and 
very  decided,  for  he  was  afraid  the  civilians 
would  talk  all  day  if  he  permitted  them  to  do 
so.  "  I  have  made  all  my  preparations  to  defend 
the  town,  and  any  movement  on  the  part  of  the 
citizens  or  the  Home  Guard  will  interfere  with 
them.  You  can  see  that  I  have  a  battery  on 
this  hill,  though  that  is  but  a  small  part  of  what 
I  have  arranged  for  the  defence  of  the  place." 

"  But  the  steamer  has  cannons  on  her  deck," 
suggested  the  dignified  chairman. 

"  They  will  not  use  them  unless  your  Home 
Guard  should  confront  them  on  the  landing ; 
and  in  that  case  I  could  knock  the  steamer  all 
to  pieces  before  she  reached  the  shore  if  I  were 
so  disposed,"  replied  the  commander,  speaking 
very   hurriedly.     "  Now  I  will    tell  you   what    I 


46  ON   THE   STAFF 

wish  you  to  do ;  and  the  safety  of  your  people 
depends  upon  their  observance  of  my  instructions, 
and  if  any  of  them  are  ridden  down  by  my  cav- 
alry, it  will  be  your  fault  and  theirs." 

"  There  seems  to  be  a  large  force  on  the 
steamer.  Have  you  force  enough  to  cope  with 
them  ?  " 

"  In  ten  minutes  after  I  give  the  signal,  there 
will  be  three  hundred  troopers  in  your  streets 
and  at  the  landing.  I  see  some  of  your  citizens 
are  gathering  on  the  shore.  Send  them  and  all 
the  rest  of  your  people  to  their  homes;  and, 
above  all,  let  your  Home  Guards  go  to  bed,  or 
at  least  keep  out  of  sight.  Have  every  man, 
woman,  and  child  go  into  the  house,  and  stay 
there.  In  the  roads  they  will  be  in  danger  from 
friends  and  enemies.     That's  all  I  have  to  say." 

Without  waiting  to  answer  any  questions,  or 
to  hear  any  speeches  of  the  dignified  chairman, 
General  Woodbine  wheeled  his  horse,  and  gal- 
loped back  to  the  other  end  of  the  hill. 

"  Anything  new,  Lieutenant  Lyon  ? "  he  de- 
manded, as  he  dismounted,  and  gave  his  horse 
to  his  orderly. 


THE   HARBINGER    FIRES    THE    FIRST    GUNS     47 

"  Nothing  new,  General ;  but  the  steamer  is 
still  approaching  the  landing,  and  is  now  not 
more  than  half  a  mile  distant  from  it ;  but  she 
is  moving  very  slowly,  or  she  would  have  been 
there  before  this  time,"  replied  Deck.  "Excuse 
me,  sir,  but  it  is  time  for  me  to  join  my  squad 
under  the  hill." 

"All  right,  Lieutenant.  If  you  take  posses- 
sion of  the  steamer  at  the  right  time,  and  get  her 
away  from  the  landing,  make  it  your  first  business 
to  capture  that  man  in  the  bateau ;  for  I  wish 
to  know  something  more  about  him,"  added  the 
commander. 

"  What  shall  I  do  with  the  steamer  after 
that  ?  " 

"Return  to  the  landing-place  when  you  are 
satisfied  that  the  fight  is  well  over ;  and  I  don't 
think  it  will  amount  to  much,"  replied  the  gen- 
eral, as  Deck  turned  his  horse,  and  rode  off  in 
the  direction  of  the  incline. 

Lieutenant  Knox's  force  of  twenty  men  were 
assembled  on  the  river  side  of  the  hill,  close 
to  the  precipice,  where  they  could  not  be  seen 
from  the   enemy's    craft   as    she    approached   the 


48  ON   THE   STAFF 

landing.  On  the  other  side  of  the  long  hill, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Lyon,  were  the  two 
companies  of  Captain  Gordon  and  Captain  Rich- 
land, the  former  concealed  under  the  long  hill, 
and  the  latter  in  the  road  from  the  camp,  behind 
the  houses  of  the  village.  Lieutenant  Herndon 
sat  on  his  horse  within  speaking  distance  of  the 
commander,  ready  to  carry  his  commands  to  the 
troopers  below. 

At  the  highest  point  on  the  long  hill,  there  was 
a  flagstaff  where  the  citizens  in  better  times  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  hoisting  "  Old  Glory,"  and 
firing  a  salute  on  the  Fourth  of  July.  The 
general  had  arranged  to  run  up  the  national  en- 
sign as  a  signal  to  the  man  on  the  camp-hill, 
and  for  the  movement  of  Major  Lyon's  command. 
But,  fearful  that  it  might  not  be  seen  by  all  con- 
cerned, he  intended  to  send  his  order  to  the  major 
by  his  remaining  staff-officer. 

Deck  found  the  boarding-squad  in  good  order 
on  his  arrival  under  the  hill.  He  rode  in  ahead 
of  the  lieutenant,  and  then  hugged  the  cliff  as 
the  rest  of  them  were  doing.  Not  even  Knox 
knew  what   his    force   were    to   do,    and    it   was 


THE    HARBINGER   FIRES   THE   FIRST   GUNS     49 

necessary  to  instruct  them ;  for  their  movement 
was  to  be  made  with  a  rush,  like  a  hurricane 
breaking  upon  a  devoted  town. 

"  Are  we  to  halt  here  all  the  rest  of  the  day, 
Leftenant?"  inquired  Life,  as  Deck  turned  his 
horse  so  as  to  face  the  stout  Kentuckian. 

"  Not  leftenant,  for  that  is  not  the  fashion  in 
modern  times  in  this  country,  but  lieutenant,  as 
though  the  first  syllable  were  spelled  1-u,"  said 
the  staff-officer  with  a  laugh. 

"All  right.  Lieutenant,"  replied  Life,  pronoun- 
cing it  correctly  this  time,  as  he  had  sometimes 
before.  "  But  I  think  I  had  rather  be  an  orderly- 
sergeant  than  have  so  much  grammar  and  dic- 
tionary stuffed  into  me." 

"  You  will  soon  have  a  commission  as  a  lieu- 
tenant, and  you  don't  want  to  report  to  your 
superior  officer  in  backwoods  English,"  suggested 
Deck. 

"I  had  a  fair  share  of  learning  when  I  was  a 
young  feller  "  — 

"  Fellow,"  prompted  the  lieutenant. 

"  When  I  was  a  young  fellow ;  but  among  the 
hunters  and  trappers  beyond  the   Rockies  I  fell 


50  ON   THE   STAFF 

into  their  way  of  talking  more'n  I  wish  I  had. 
But  what  are  we  gwine  to  do,  Lieutenant?  " 

" '  Gwine '  is  niggerish.  We  are  going  to  do 
a  big  thing,  Life.  Where  are  Drye  and  Beck- 
land?" 

"They  are  both  here." 

"  Call  them  up,  for  I  want  them  to  hear  what 
I  have  to  say  to  you." 

The  two  engineers  were  called,  and  placed 
themselves  out  of  sight  behind  Deck's  horse. 

"  Just  as  soon  as  the  force  on  that  steamer  have 
landed,  and  made  their  way  up  into  the  town, 
you  will  march  your  men  at  a  rapid  gallop  down 
to  the  steamer.  They  will  leave  the  wide  gang- 
plank by  which  the  force  comes  ashore.  Go 
down  by  twos,  and  dash  up  that  plank  in  the 
same  order.  If  there  are  any  soldiers  on  board 
who  make  opposition,  shoot  them  with  your 
revolvers,  or  cut  them  down  with  your  sabres. 
In  other  words,  take  possession  of  the  boat  in 
spite  of  any  force  on  board  of  her.  Do  you  un- 
derstand it  all  clearly?  " 

"  I  reckon  I  do,  and  it  is  as  easy  as  the  multi- 
plication table  up  to  ten  times  ten." 


THE    HARBINGER    FIRES    THE    FIRST    GUNS     51 

"  That's  SO,  and  spoken  in  very  good  Eng- 
lish," replied  Deck.  "  Now,  Drye,  I  am  going  to 
appoint  you,  by  the  authority  of  General  Wood- 
bine, the  engineer  of  that  steamer;  and  you  will 
go  to  the  engine  as  soon  as  you  get  on  board  of 
her." 

"I  shall  be  at  home  there,"  answered  Drye. 

"As  you  and  Beckland  go  on  board,  you  will 
cast  off  the  fasts  of  the  steamer  if  they  get  any 
out.  Of  course  you  will  go  behind  the  rest  of 
the  men,"  continued  the  staff-officer. 

"  But  what  am  I  to  do  after  I  get  on  board  ?  " 
asked  Beckland. 

"  You  will  take  charge  of  the  darky  firemen, 
and  be  ready  to  take  Drye's  place  in  case  any- 
thing happens  to  him.  That's  all.  Now,  Lieu- 
tenant Knox,  you  had  better  tell  your  men  what 
they  are  to  do,  and  don't  let  one  of  them  flinch 
or  hang  back,  whatever  happens,  for  we  don't 
know  our  ground  very  well." 

Both  Deck  and  Knox  instructed  the  men,  and 
in  five  minutes  they  were  ready  for  action ;  for  in 
the  curve  of  the  cliff  they  were  easily  out  of  sight 
of  those  on  the  forecastle  of  the  steamer.     On  the 


52  ON   THE   STAFF 

hill,  General  Woodbine  was  eagerly  watching  the 
slow  approach  of  the  Harbinger  ;  for  with  his  field- 
glass  Deck  had  been  able  to  read  the  name  over 
her  lofty  pilot-house.  The  town  council,  with  the 
aid  of  the  sheriff  and  other  officers,  had  passed 
around  the  instructions  of  the  general.  The  peo- 
ple on  the  levee  and  on  the  front  street  had  all 
retired,  and  the  village  looked  as  quiet  as  it  ought 
to  be  on  a  Sunday  afternoon.  Though  they  could 
not  be  seen,  the  people  had  probably  retired  to 
their  houses,  as  much  for  their  own  safety  as  not 
to  interfere  with  the  movements  of  the  troops. 

Suddenly  the  report  of  the  two  guns  on  the 
forecastle  of  the  Harbinger  resounded  on  the 
still  Sabbath  air;  but  the  shots  only  ploughed 
up  the  sands  of  the  beach  at  the  landing.  With 
his  glass  the  commander  saw  the  artillerymen 
on  the  deck  reloading  the  pieces ;  but  they  were 
not  fired  again.  Doubtless  they  had  been  dis- 
charged only  to  "wake  up  the  town,"  as  the 
enemy  would  have  expressed  it. 

The  steamer  slowly  approached  the  landing, 
and  thrust  her  nose  into  the  sand.  Without  a  mo- 
ment's delay  the  wide  gangway  was  run  to  the 


THE   HARBINGER   FIRES   THE   FIRST   GUNS     53 

dry  land,  and  the  troops  on  board  began  to  dis- 
embark. No  force  appeared  to  oppose  them,  and 
they  marched  forward  confidently  into  the  town. 
Then  the  American  flag  was  run  up  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  long  hill.  Lieutenant  Herndon  gal- 
loped his  steed  down  the  incline  with  the  order 
to  Major  Lyon. 

"  Left  —  by  twos  —  march !  "  caUed  Knox  when 
ordered  to  do  so  by  Deck. 

Then  the  squad  dashed  down  the  road  to  the 
landing. 


64  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   IV 

THE   FIGHT    ON   BOARD   THE    STEAIVIER 

Deck's  horse  was  named  after  the  celebrated 
horse  of  Alexander  the  Great;  though  the  four 
syllables  of  the  word  had  been  contracted  into 
one,  and  was  always  called  Ceph.  He  knew  his 
name  as  well  as  liis  master  did,  and  was  as  fond 
of  him  as  though  he  had  been  an  affectionate  span- 
iel. He  had  been  highly  trained  by  his  rider, 
and  had  never  received  a  blow  from  him ;  in 
fact,  the  young  cavalryman  would  as  soon  have 
thought  of  striking  his  mother  as  his  favorite 
steed. 

As  soon  as  Lieutenant  Knox  gave  the  order  to 
march,  Deck  siinply  said,  "  Come,  Ceph  !"  and  the 
intelligent  animal  started.  " Come,  Ceph,  lively!" 
added  the  rider  a  moment  later;  and  the  steed 
broke  into  a  smart  gallop.  Deck  patted  him  on 
the  neck,  and  he  increased  his  speed  so  that  no 
other   horse    in    the    squad    could   keep   up  with 


THE   FIGHT   ON   BOARD   THE   STEAMER  55 

him.  There  was  a  sort  of  freemasonry  between 
them  into  which  Ceph  had  been  initiated,  and 
which  he  had  practised  for  nearly  two  years. 
The  officer  had  never  worn  spurs,  because  he 
never  had  occasion  for  tliem ;  for  a  kindly  word 
would  cause  the  noble  animal  to  do  all  he  could 
in  the  matter  of  speed  better  than  spurs  would 
have  stimulated  him. 

Ceph  was  fresh  from  the  pickets,  and  he  went 
at  a  mad  gallop.  The  rider  kept  his  eyes  wide 
open,  as  he  always  did  when  on  duty.  He  had 
seen  the  force  of  the  enemy  land  from  the  Har- 
binger ;  and  it  included  a  squad  of  about  a  dozen 
cavalry,  wearing  the  gray  of  the  Confederate 
army,  as  did  the  infantry  that  preceded  them. 
The  detachment  hastily  formed  on  the  beach; 
and  the  troopers  went  to  the  front,  leading  the 
way  into  the  town.  In  a  few  moments  they 
had  disappeared,  taking  the  principal  street. 
They  all  marched  at  the  double-quick,  as  though 
they  were  in  a  hurry  to  complete  the  work  in 
which  they  were  engaged. 

The  steamer  had  made  her  landing  at  the  upper 
front  of  the  place,  and  it  was  but  a  short  ride 


66  ON   THE   STAFF 

from  the  cliff  to  the  boat.  Knox  was  not  more 
than  a  minute  behind  the  staff-officer;  and  the 
dashing  lieutenant  did  not  look  to  the  right  nor 
the  left,  but  kept  his  gaze  fixed  upon  the  gang- 
plank of  the  Harbinger,  riding  to  it  by  the  short> 
est  way.  Without  any  hesitation  he  galloped  up 
to  the  platform,  closely  followed  by  his  troopers. 

If  a  guard  had  been  left  on  board  to  protect 
the  steamer,  they  were  on  the  after  deck  or  in 
the  saloon ;  and  Deck,  who  had  not  led  the  way 
up  the  gang-plank,  soon  discovered  that  the 
guard  were  observing  the  movements  of  the 
troops  who  had  gone  on  shore,  at  the  stern  of 
the  boat.  The  lieutenant  rode  far  enough  to 
enable  him  to  obtain  a  glance  up  the  street  by 
which  the  Confederate  force  had  advanced.  On 
his  way  back  at  the  best  speed  of  Ceph,  he  was 
fired  at,  and  he  heard  the  ball  whizz  behind  his 
head ;  but  "  a  miss  was  as  good  as  a  mile,"  and 
he  reached  the  gang-plank  in  safety. 

He  had  seen  the  enemy  on  shore  in  his  hasty 
glance  up  the  street,  and  they  had  halted  in  an 
open  space  in  the  centre  of  the  village.  He  con- 
cluded that  the  commander  of  the  force  desired 


THE   FIGHT   ON   BOARD   THE    STEAMER  57 

to  find  some  person  who  could  give  him  needed 
information ;  for  the  town  council  had  so  effectu- 
ally carried  out  the  instructions  of  General  Wood- 
bine, that  not  a  man,  woman,  nor  child  was  to  he 
seen  in  the  streets.  But  the  lieutenant  had  no 
time  to  study  or  speculate  on  the  situation. 

Without  checking  the  speed  of  his  horse.  Deck 
dashed  up  the  plank  to  the  forecastle  of  the 
boat,  when  he  reined  in  to  ascertain  how  far 
Knox  had  proceeded.  He  found  that  the  acting 
lieutenant  had  left  four  men  near  the  engines, 
and  advanced  with  the  others  to  the  after  part 
of  the  steamer,  where  a  conflict  was  in  progress. 
The  guard  fired  upon  the  bold  boarders,  and  one 
man  dropped  from  his  saddle.  This  was  war; 
and,  dropping  their  sabres  so  that  they  hung  by 
the  cords  to  their  wrists,  they  drew  their  revol- 
vers, and  began  to  fire  with  great  rapidity,  for 
there  was  not  room  enough  on  the  deck  to 
manoeuvre  with  horses. 

Deck  rode  aft  as  soon  as  he  heard  the  firing 
of  the  combatants  at  the  other  end  of  the  boat. 
On  his  arrival  the  enemy  had  discharged  their 
muskets  ;  and  as  they  were  obliged  to  reload  before 


58  ON   THE   STAFF 

they  could  do  anything  more  with  bullets,  they 
were  trying  to  advance,  and  make  a  bayonet 
charge  upon  the  horsemen ;  but  the  troopers  were 
used  to  this  sort  of  thing,  and  cut  down  those 
who  advanced,  till  the^  remnant  of  them  retreated 
to  a  position  where  the  horses  could  not  follow 
them. 

"  Do  you  surrender,  or  shall  we  shoot  down 
the  rest  of  you?"  demanded  Lieutenant  Knox, 
prompted  by  the  staff-officer. 

"We  surrender,"  replied  a  sergeant,  who  ap- 
peared to  be  in  command  of  the  party. 

"No,  we  don't!"  exclaimed  one  of  the  num- 
ber, as  he  dropped  into  the  water  at  the  stern 
of  the  boat. 

He  was  followed  by  four  others ;  and  the 
troopers  pointed  their  revolvers  at  their  heads 
as  they  were  seen  standing  up  to  their  necks 
in  the  river. 

"  Don't  fire !  "  shouted  Deck  with  all  the 
strength  of  his  lungs ;  for  he  never  permitted 
an  inhuman  action,  even  in  the  excitement  of 
battle. 

"  Return   pistols  I "    added    Knox    in   a   vigor- 


The  troopers  pointed  their  revolvers  at  their  heads." 

Page  5S 


THE   FIGHT    ON   BOARD   THE    STEAMER  59 

ous  tone ;  for  he  always  seconded  Deck  with  all 
his  might. 

"  Let  them  go ;  they  have  only  jumped  out 
of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire,"  said  the  staff- 
officer,  as  he  saw  the  five  men  waddling  with 
all  their  might  towards  the  shore. 

"  Those  that  want  to  surrender,  bring  out 
your  arms,  and  lay  them  down  on  deck!"  con- 
tinued Lieutenant  Knox  in  hurried  tones. 

But  only  three  men  obeyed  the  summons ;  for 
five  had  escaped,  two  had  been  killed,  and  two 
more  appeared  to  be  badly  wounded,  so  that  they 
could  not  obey  the  call.  Knox  dismounted  his 
men,  and  ordered  them  to  secure  their  horses 
at  a  pole  extended  from  two  stanchions,  where 
the  animals  of  the  cavalrymen  who  had  landed 
had  evidently  been  tied.  Deck's  horse  was 
taken  by  one  of  the  men,  and  he  hastened  for- 
ward to  ascertain  the  situation  there. 

The  skirmish  on  the  deck  of  the  Harbinger 
had  lasted  hardly  more  than  five  minutes,  for 
at  such  times  everything  is  done  with  a  snap. 
Drye  and  Beckland  had  come  on  foot  from  the 
cliff;  and  though  they  ran  all  the  way,  the  fight 


60  ON   THE    STAFF 

was  coming  to  an  end  when  they  reached  the 
levee.  Then  the  heavy  line  with  which  the 
boat  was  secured  to  a  post  was  drawn  taut  by 
the  action  of  the  current  on  the  craft,  and  they 
had  not  been  able  to  cast  it  off.  They  were 
struggling  to  detach  it  when  Deck  appeared  on 
the  forecastle. 

"  Slack  off  that  bow-line !  "  shouted  Drye. 

"Slack  it  off!"  repeated  Deck  to  one  of  the 
sentinels  who  were  standing  at  the  engines. 

One  of  them  obeyed  the  order,  and  let  off 
enough  of  the  line  from  the  cleat  where  it  was 
made  fast  to  enable  the  engineers  to  slip  it 
over  the  post.  The  staff-officer  called  the  other 
sentinels,  and  ordered  them  to  haul  in  the  line ; 
and  the  boat  was  then  free  from  her  connection 
with  the  shore.  But  the  five  men  who  had 
waded  ashore  needed  a  little  violent  exercise 
to  warm  them  up  after  their  cold  bath  on  a 
January  day;  and  possibly  they  were  somewhat 
stimulated  in  addition  by  the  thought  that  a 
shower  of  balls  from  the  carbines  of  the  troop- 
ers might  overtake  them,  and  they  ran  with  all 
the  speed  they  could  command  towards  the  street 


THE    FIGHT    ON    BOARD    THE    STEAMER  61 

where  the  main  body  of  the  Confederate  force 
had  disappeared.  They  made  some  furious  ges- 
tures, and  waved  everything  they  had  to  wave, 
evidently  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  the  at- 
tention of  their  comrades  in  arms. 

The  short  time  that  had  elapsed  since  the 
signal  for  the  outlying  companies  to  advance 
had  not  been  sufficient  to  enable  the  three  to 
reach  the  centre  of  the  village  ;  but  Deck  saw 
Captain  Gordon's  men  galloping  down  the  road 
between  the  long  hill  and  the  village.  But  the 
dozen  Confederate  troopers  he  had  seen  land 
from  the  Harbinger  might  respond  to  the  signals 
of  those  who  had  escaped,  and  make  trouble, 
and  he  hastened  the  movements  on  board  of 
the   steamer. 

Without  any  orders  from  the  lieutenant  in 
command,  Drye  hastened  to  the  starboard  engi- 
neer, and  Beckland  ordered  the  firemen  to  stir 
up  the  fuel  in  the  furnaces.  The  command  of 
the  latter  was  promptly  obeyed ;  for  the  ne- 
groes- saw  the  uniform  of  the  troopers,  and  had 
seen  enough  to  enable  them  to  comprehend  the 
situation. 


62  ON   THE    STAFF 

"  I  will  relieve  you  from  further  duty  at  this 
engine,"  said  Drye  to  the  starboard  engineer, 
who  was  a  stout  and  fat  man. 

"Who  are  you?"  demanded  the  engineer,  with 
an  expletive  which  need  not  be  repeated. 

"I  am  appointed  by  the  general  in  command 
of  the  Union  forces  here  to  take  charge  of  this 
engine,"  replied  Drye  with  entire  self-posses- 
sion. 

"  Well,  you  won't  take  charge  of  it,"  added 
the  engineer,  with  a  string  of  oaths  which  shocked 
Drye ;  for  he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church 
in  good  and  regular  standing. 

At  the  same  time  the  Secessionist,  as  his  ac- 
tions plainly  proved  that  he  was,  began  to  pull 
a  revolver  from  his  hip  pocket.  Corporal  Drye 
had  his  drawn  sabre  in  his  hand,  held  behind 
him,  in  anticipation  of  any  resistance  to  the 
order  of  his  superior;  and  he  proved  that  he 
was  a  member  of  the  church  militant  as  well 
as  the  other,  for  he  brought  the  flat  of  the  blade 
across  the  side  of  the  engineer's  head  with  a 
force  which  knocked  whatever  sense  he  had  in 
it    entirely   out.      Then    he    dragged   his    victim 


THE   FIGHT   ON   BOARD   THE   STEAMER  63 

out  of  the  way,  and  handed  him  over  to  other 
members  of  the  party. 

"  Are  you  all  ready,  Drye  ? "  asked  Deck,  as 
he  approached  the  engine. 

"  I  am  all  ready,  Lieutenant ;  but  I  reckon 
you  didn't  know  it  takes  two  engineers  to  run 
this  boat,  for  she  has  a  separate  engine  on  each 
side." 

"  I  did  know  it,  but  I  did  not  think  of  it," 
replied  Deck.  "  Beckland !  "  he  called  to  the 
other  engineer,  "take  charge  of  the  port  en- 
gine ; "  and  the  trooper  hastened  to  obey  the 
order.     "Now,  Beckland,  back  the  port  engine." 

The  port  engineer  obeyed,  for  he  was  per- 
fectly at  home  in  his  position;  and  the  wheel 
on  that  side  of  the  steamer  began  to  turn.  The 
effect  was  not  only  to  back  the  boat,  but  to 
bring  her  about  so  that  she  was  headed  down 
the  river.  The  movement  had  carried  her  into 
this  position  about  a  hundred  feet  from  the 
shore,  and  then  Beckland  was  directed  to  stop 
his  machine. 

The  staff-officer  was  anxious  to  see  what  was 
going   on    in   the  village,    and   on   the    levee    in 


64  ON  THE  STAFF 

front  of  it.  The  five  men  who  had  waded 
ashore  had  disappeared  in  the  principal  street; 
but  it  was  plain  that  they  had  been  seen,  and 
their  signals  interpreted;  for  the  little  squad 
of  Confederate  cavalry  came  rushing  down  the 
street  at  a  gallop,  but  it  was  only  to  blunder 
upon  the  first  company  of  the  Riverlawns,  or  to 
be  swept  away  by  this  body. 

Deck  could  hear  Captain  Gordon's  order  to 
charge  upon  the  enemy  in  front  of  him ;  and 
then  he  ascended  to  the  pilot-house,  Knox  send- 
ing Sergeant  Sluder  and  Corporal  Milton  with 
him  to  insure  his  safety.  When  the  trio  reached 
the  hurricane  deck,  they  halted  to  see  the  ex- 
pected action.  The  current  had  carried  the  Har- 
binger a  short  distance  down  the  stream,  and  she 
was  then  abreast  of  the  principal  street. 

The  first  company  of  the  Riverlawns  charged 
upon  the  dozen  of  the  enemy;  and  it  seemed  to 
the  observers  as  though  they  had  been  suddenly 
annihilated,  for  a  couple  of  them  dropped  from 
their  saddles,  and  the  rest  fled  up  the  street,  as 
they  were  perfectly  justified  in  doing,  and  should 
have  done  sooner,  when  they  realized  that  they 


THE    FIGHT    ON    BOARD    THE    STEAMER,  65 

were  confronting  an  overwhelming  force  of  at 
least  six  times  their  own  number. 

Captain  Gordon's  company  followed  them  up 
the  street ;  but  he  did  not  hurry  his  men,  for  he 
knew  that  two  other  companies  were  hastening 
to  the  same  focal  point  in'  the  town.  Deck  saw 
so  much,  and  he  was  about  to  make  his  way  up 
to  the  pilot-house,  when  he  discovered  the  head 
of  the  second  company,  moving  by  fours,  wheel 
into  the  farther  end  of  the  street.  He  had  the 
commission  of  the  general  to  execute;  and  he 
could  remain  no  longer  as  an  observer,  much  as 
he  wished  to  do  so. 

In  the  pilot-house  he  found  a  bony  Western 
man  standing  at  a  side  window,  smoking  a  pipe, 
and  observing  the  action  on  shore. 

"Are  you  the  pilot  of  the  Harbinger?"  asked 
Deck,  as  he  entered  the  apartment. 

"  I  am  the  chief  pilot,  and  my  assistants  are 
outside,  watching  the  fun  on  shore,"  replied  the 
man  good-naturedly.  "  But  it  begins  to  look  as 
though  this  boat  would  not  be  wanted  much 
longer  about  here.  I  make  bold  to  ask  who  you 
are,  though  I  see  you  wear  a  Yankee  uniform?" 


66  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  am  on  the  staff  of  General  Woodbine,  in 
command  of  the  Union  force  on  shore,"  replied 
Deck.  "  I  wish  to  use  this  boat  immediately ; 
and  if  you  don't  object,  I  shall  put  Sergeant 
Sluder  in  your  place." 

"And  I  reckon  you  will  if  I  do  object," 
chuckled  the  pilot.  "I  am  a  Dutch  German, 
and  I  don't  care  a  pin  which  side  gets  the  best 
of  it  in  this  fight.  I  am  right  willing  to  act  as 
pilot  for  you.  My  name  is  Kleineniederlandische. 
If  you  want  me,  you  have  only  to  call  me  by 
name,"  chuckled  the  man. 

"  Is  that  all  ?  Well,  then,  start  the  boat  ahead, 
Mr.  Klootspreechnschenopenstein,"  laughed  Deck, 
using  a  composite  name  he  had  learned  in  school. 

He  concluded  that  the  pilot  was  fooling  him ; 
but  the  boat  went  ahead,  and  that  was  all  he 
wanted. 


A   DESPERATE   ACTION    IN    THE    TOWN  67 


CHAPTER   V 

A   DESPERATE   ACTION   IN   THE   TOWN 

The  pilot  of  the  Harbinger  was  evidently  a 
humorist  in  his  own  way.  The  staff-officer  was 
well  aware  himself  that  he  was  a  young  man ;  and 
the  engineer  seemed  to  regard  him  as  nothing  but 
a  boy,  and  was  disposed  to  treat  him  as  such,  and 
especially  to  be  very  jolly  with  him.  But  he  rang 
the  bells  at  the  engine,  and  when  the  steamer 
began  to  move  he  headed  her  out  into  the  stream. 

Deck  had  no  coniidence  in  the  man,  and 
would  not  trust  him.  He  placed  the  sergeant 
and  the  corporal  who  had  come  up  with  him,  at 
the  doors  of  the  pilot-house,  both  of  which  were 
open,  and  both  men  had  their  hands  on  their 
revolvers.  He  did  not  believe  that  he  was  a 
German,  although  he  appeared  to  have  some 
knowledge  of  the  language ;  but  his  English  was 
quite  as  good  as  that  of  ordinary  Americans. 

"How  much  water  does  this  boat  draw,  Mr. 


68  ON   THE   STAFF 

Pilot?"  asked  the  lieutenant,  without  attempting 
to  speak  the  name  given  him. 

"  Three  feet  and  a  half  when  she  is  not  loaded 
any  heavier  than  she  is  now,"  replied  the  humor- 
ist ;  "  but  I  reckon  she  will  want  four  or  four  and 
a  half  when  she  has  taken  on  board  the  stores 
she  came  here  for." 

"  Yery  likely  she  will,  Herr  Kloots ;  but  I  am 
decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  she  will  remain  as 
light  as  she  is  now,"  answered  Deck.  "I  don't 
think  you  need  go  any  farther  out  into  the  river." 

"  You  haven't  told  me  where  to  take  the  boat, 
Little  One." 

"  Do  you  see  that  bateau,  j^unt,  flatboat,  or 
whatever  you  call  her  here,  near  the  Kentucky 
shore  ?  "  asked  the  officer. 

"  No,  I  don't  see  it.  I  am  a  little  deef  in  one 
eye;  but  if  you  will  lend  me  your  squinter,  I 
may  make  it  out,"  replied  the  pilot,  pointing  to 
the  case  in  which  Deck  carried  his  field-glass 
suspended  from  his  shoulder. 

"If  you  are  as  blind  as  that,  you  are  not  fit 
for  a  pilot;  and  I  think  I  will  call  in  Sergeant 
Sluder,    and   have    him    take   your   place,"    said 


A   DESPERATE   ACTION   IN   THE  TOWN  69 

the  lieutenant  in  sharper  tones  than  he  had 
spoken  before, 

"  I  reckon  you  won't  do  nothing  of  the  sort, 
Little  Joker,"  answered  Mv.  Kleineniederlan- 
dische. 

"  I  might  as  well  remark  at  this  stage,  in  the 
mildest  and  sweetest  manner  possible,  that  if  you 
don't  obey  my  orders  I  shall  invite  my  men  at 
the  doors  to  put  one  or  more  bullets  through 
that  head  of  youi-s,"  added  Deck. 

"  I  won't  bother  you  to  do  that,  for  while  you 
are  in  command  of  the  Harbinger  I  will  obey 
your  orders,"  replied  the  pilot,  with  a  broad 
grin  playing  around  the  stem  of  his  pipe,  wliich 
he  still  held  by  his  teeth.  "  I  am  willing  to  say 
that  I  can  see  the  flatboat  now,  for  I  was  look- 
ing the  wrong  way  before." 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Kloots.  Head  her  for  it, 
and  go  ahead  at  full  speed,"  added  Deck. 

The  pilot  used  his  bell-pulls ;  and  the  Harbin- 
ger increased  her  speed,  so  that  she  was  within 
hail  of  the  little  boat  in  a  few  minutes.  The 
lieutenant  sent  Corporal  Milton  down  to  the  main 
deck  with  an  order  to  Knox  to  pick  up  the  white 


70  ON   THE   STAFF 

man,  and  leave  the  negroes  in  the  bateau.  But 
the  signalman  had  discovered,  as  the  steamer 
approached,  that  some  change  had  taken  place 
on  board  of  her,  and  his  oarsmen  were  now 
pulling  with  all  their  might  for  the  shore.  The 
Harbinger  was  too  quick  for  them,  and  she  soon 
came  up  with  the  craft. 

"  Stop  your  boat,  or  we  will  fire  into  you !  " 
shouted  Knox  from  the  forecastle. 

"Stop  her,  Mr.  Kloots !  "  said  Deck;  and  the 
pilot  promptly  obeyed  him. 

Both  Sergeant  Sluder  and  Corporal  Milton 
were  trustworthy  men ;  and  after  the  lieutenant 
had  instructed  them  to  watch  the  pilot,  and  tell- 
ing them  what  to  do  if  he  should  prove  to  be 
refractory,  he  descended  to  the  main  deck.  He 
found  Lieutenant  Knox  with  half  his  men  on 
the  forecastle.  Life  had  ordered  the  boat  to 
stop ;  and  the  negroes,  in  mortal  terror  of  their 
lives,  had  ceased  to  row,  and  the  signalman  was 
storming  at  them  in  the  most  violent  manner, 
trying  to  make  them  renew  their  efforts  to  escape. 

"  Take  your  oars,  you  black  rascals !  "  shouted 
the  fellow.     "  We    shall  get   into  shallow  water 


A  DESPERATE   ACTION   IN   THE  TOWN  71 

in  three  minutes,  where  the  steamer  cannot  follow 
us!" 

"  But  de  bullets  catch  up  wid  us  shore,"  re- 
plied one  of  them;  and  they  refused  to  use  an 
oar. 

Standing  near  the  bow.  Deck  could  see  the 
pilot,  and  gave  him  the  order  to  back  her  when 
he  saw  that  the  headway  of  the  steamer  would 
run  the  bateau  down. 

"  Stop  her  I  "  he  shouted  when  the  signalman 
was  within  reach  of  the  long  arms  of  the  tall 
Kentuckian.  "  One  turn  ahead !  "  he  called,  as 
the  current  carried  the  boat  a  little  farther  from 
the  steamer. 

This  movement  brought  the  Harbinger  bunt 
against  the  bateau.  Knox  lay  down  by  the  stem 
of  the  steamer,  and,  reaching  down,  grasped  the 
signalman,  who  was  standing  up  in  the  stern  of 
the  little  craft,  and  dragged  him  on  board  as 
though  he  had  been  nothing  but  a  small  boy. 
He  flung  him  upon  the  deck  as  though  he  had 
been  an  unclean  beast.  He  looked  like  a  well- 
to-do  farmer,  and  was  dressed  well,  though  in 
the  costume  of  his  class  of  people. 


72  ON   THE   STAFF 

"What  are  you  about?"  demanded  the  farmer, 
springing  to  his  feet,  and  gazing  earnestly  at 
Deck  and  Knox. 

"  We  are  about  to  put  you  in  some  safe  place," 
replied  Deck,  after  he  had  given  the  pilot  an 
order  to  bring  the  steamer  about,  and  run  up  to 
the  town.  "Are  you  a  loyal  citizen  of  Ken- 
tucky ?  for  I  judge  that  you  live  on  that  side  of 
the  river." 

"  I  am  not  what  you  call  a  loyal  citizen,  wear- 
ing the  blue  uniform,  but  I  am  a  loyal  citizen 
of  my  country,"  answered  the  farmer  sullenly. 

"  What  is  your  country  ?  " 

"  The  Confederate  States  of  America." 

"  So  I  supposed,"  added  Deck.  "  What  were 
you  doing  in  that  flatboat  ?  " 

"  I  was  doing  my  duty  to  my  country  by  in- 
forming our  brave  troops  that  the  coast  was  clear 
for  them  to  make  a  landing  at  the  levee  of 
Barkville." 

"  What  is  your  name,  if  you  please  ?  "  inquired 
the  lieutenant  on  the  staff. 

"  Ethan  Thornfield  ;  and  I'm  not  ashamed  of 
it.     But  I  don't  understand  this  business,"  replied 


A   DESPERATE   ACTION    IN    THE   TOWN  73 

the  farmer.  "  It  looks  just  as  though  you  had 
captured  the  Harbinger,  or  run  away  with  her 
from  the  landing.  If  you  please,  I  should  like 
to  know  something  about  what  you  have  been 
doing,"  Mr.  Thornfield  proceeded  in  a  tone  which 
proved  that  he  could  be  a  gentleman  even  while 
he  was  a  Secessionist. 

"I  shall  be  happy  to  inform  jon  what  we 
have  been  doing,  and  what  we  are  still  doing, 
after  you  have  given  me  full  information  in  regard 
to  what  you  have  been  doing,"  Deck  returned. 

"  As  I  can't  harm  my  countrymen  by  doing  so, 
I  don't  object,"  said  Thornfield,  seating  himself 
on  a  barrel  with  the  remark  that  he  was  very 
tired.  "  I  live  over  on  the  Marrow  Bone  Road, 
near  the  creek  that  comes  into  the  Cumberland 
just  below  here.  I  am  not  as  poor  as  you  may 
think  I  am ;  and  I  own  a  steam-launch,  which  I 
keep  on  the  creek,  and  often  go  to  town  by  water. 
Well,  I  haven't  been  there  for  a  week;  but  a 
friend  of  mine  there  came  over  to  see  me  the 
other  day,  and  told  me  that  a  train  of  wagons 
was  to  bring  a  large  supply  of  stores  for  a  Yankee 
force  that  was  coming  this  way." 


74  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Slow  her  down,  Pilot !  "  called  Deck  to  the 
Dutch-German. 

"  Besides,"  resumed  the  signalman,  "  I  know 
of  a  lot  of  Kentucky  farmers  who  are  Yankees  at 
heart;  and  they  have  plenty  of  grain,  meat, 
horses,  mules,  and  niggers  ;  and  this  sort  of  goods 
would  help  out  our  army  in  Tennessee,  where 
Crittenden  took  all  the  supplies  of  the  farmers, 
and  gave  them  receipts  for  them.  I  started  down 
the  creek  in  my  steam-launch  with  three  niggers, 
towing  that  punt,  and  went  down  to  Martinsville, 
where  1  had  business  of  my  own. 

"I  found  the  Harbinger  there,  bound  up  the 
river  looking  for  supplies.  I  went  on  board  of 
her,  and  met  Captain  Altamont,  in  command  of 
the  force  she  carried,  and  I  gave  him  my  news. 
I  started  for  home,  and  steamed  all  night  in 
the  launch,  and  got  to  the  mouth  of  the  creek 
at  noon  to-da}^  I  promised  Captain  Altamont 
that  I  would  signal  him  with  a  white  cloth  on  a 
boathook  if  the  way  was  clear  for  him  to  make 
a  landing  at  Barkville.  He  was  slow  about  com- 
ing up  the  river  after  I  made  the  signals ;  why  I 
don't  Ivnow.     That's  all  I  know  about  the  affair." 


A   DESPERATE   ACTION   IN   THE   TOAVN  75 

Mr.  Thornfield  seemed  to  be  a  fairly  well- 
educated  man,  judging  from  his  speech,  and 
Lieutenant  Lyon  believed  he  had  told  the  whole 
truth ;  for  he  was  plainly  a  square  man,  in  spite 
of  his  pontics.  By  this  time  the  Harbinger  was 
off  the  levee ;  and  the  staff-officer  ordered  the 
pilot  to  stop  her,  and  keep  her  where  she  was, 
at  a  distance  of  about  three  hundi'ed  feet  from 
the  beach. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  have  to  inform  you,  Mr.  Thorn- 
field,  after  you  have  told  me  such  a  straight 
story,  that  you  have  led  your  military  friends 
into  a  very  ugly  trap,"  said  Deck,  when  the 
farmer  had  finished  his  narrative.  "But  what 
has  become  of  your  steam-launch  ?  " 

"  I  sent  it  up  the  creek  by  the  nigger  engineer, 
and  the  two  other  niggers  pulled  me  up  the 
river  where  you  saw  me.  But  what  do  you 
mean  by  an  ugly  trap.  Lieutenant  ?  " 

"  General  Woodbine,  with  three  full  companies 
pf  cavalry  and  a  battery,  arrived  at  this  place 
last  night,  and  the  supplies  are  for  his  command. 
I  discovered  the  bow  of  the  steamer  when  she 
came   half   a   dozen   times    out    from    behind    the 


76  ON   THE    STAFF 

bank  ou  the  other  side  of  the  river.  Later  I 
saw  your  punt,  and  the  signals  you  made.  The 
general  was  mystified  by  your  actions,  and  he 
will  be  glad  to  have  your  movements  explained 
to  him.  We  captured  the  steamer  to  prevent 
the  Confederates  from  escaping  in  her.  Captain 
Altamont's  command  is  surrounded  long  before 
this  time ;  and  he  must  surrrender,  or  his  men 
will  be  cut  to  pieces." 

"  And  I  led  him  into  this  trap  !  "  exclaimed 
Thornfield,  with  a  heavy  groan. 

"  You  did ;  but  of  course  you  did  not  intend 
to  do  anything  of  the  kind,"  replied  Deck,  who 
could  not  help  thinking  how  he  would  have  felt 
himself  if  he  had  done  such  a  thing,  even  in- 
nocently. 

"  Them  Seceshers  is  fighting  for  all  they  are 
wuth,"  said  Life,  who  had  been  near  enough  to 
hear  the  farmer's  story. 

"Those  Secessionists  are  fighting  for  all  they 
are  worth,"  corrected  Deck;  and  the  acting  lieu- 
tenant repeated  his  remark  in  more  correct  form. 

"What  does  it  look  like,  Life?" 

"  It  looks  as  though  the  enemy  were  about  used 


A  DESPERATE    ACTION   IN   THE  TOWN  77 

up,"  replied  he,  careful  about  his  grammar  and 
punctuation. 

"As  nearly  as  I  can  make  it  out,  the  enemy 
marched  to  the  square  in  the  middle  of  the  vil- 
lage, where  our  three  companies  fell  upon  them," 
said  the  staff-officer,  as  he  ascended  to  the  hur- 
ricane deck,  followed  by  Knox ;  for  here  they 
could  obtain  a  better  view  of  the  battle  than 
from  the  main  deck. 

They  had  hardly  obtained  a  good  position  to 
witness  the  struggle,  before  the  action  appeared 
to  have  suddenly  come  to  an  end ;  and  Deck  had 
no  doubt  that  Captain  Altamont  had  surrendered. 
He  had  fought  desperately,  and  the  square  was 
strewn  with  his  own  dead  and  wounded  and 
those  of  the  Union  cavalry ;  and  it  was  simply 
madness  to  continue  to  fight  when  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  four  times  the  number  of  his  force. 

"  The  affair  seems  to  have  been  finished,"  said 
Deck  to  the  pilot. 

"  It  looks  so ;  and  the  boat  is  not  likely  to 
get  a  cargo  down  the  river  from  this  town,"  re- 
plied the  Dutch-German,  who  was  nothing  more 
than  a  Tennesseean,  as  he  afterwards  admitted. 


T8  ON  THE   STAFF 

"  You  may  rim  the  boat  up  to  the  levee  again, 
Mr.  Kloots,"  added  Deck;  and  the  pilot  went  to 
his  quarters,  and  rang  the  bells  to  go  ahead. 
"  Your  boat  is  safe ;  and  you  may  thank  your 
stars,  if  you  have  any  stars,  that  she  is  so.  On 
that  long  hill  is  a  battery  of  artillery  that  could 
have  knocked  her  into  kindling-wood  in  five  min- 
utes. Your  crowd  had  no  kind  of  a  chance  here, 
and  you  had  better  have  stayed  at  home." 

"What  am  I  now?"  asked  the  pilot  more  seri- 
ously than  before. 

"A  Dutch-German,  and  a  prisoner  of  war;  for 
you  were  captured  with  the  Harbinger  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  enemy.  Where  is  the  captain  of  the 
steamer  ?"  asked  Deck,  who  had  seen  no  such 
personage  so  far  as  he  knew. 

The  military  prisoners  on  board  who  were  not 
disabled  had  been  ordered  to  take  care  of  their 
wounded  companions;  and  one  of  them  reported 
that  the  commander  of  the  boat  was  among  the 
number.  The  gang-plank  had  been  extended  to 
the  beach ;  and  Lieutenant  Herndon  soon  rode 
upon  the  deck,  presumably  with  orders  from  the 
general. 


THE  THOROUGH  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ENEMY   79 


CHAPTER   VI 

THE   THOROUGH   DEFEAT    OF   THE   ENElVfY 

"  Well,  Deck,  what  sort  of  a  time  have  you 
had?"  asked  Lieutenant  Herndon,  as  he  galloped 
his  horse  up  the  steep  gangway  as  his  brother 
staff-officer  came  down  from  the  hurricane  deck. 

"  We  have  done  all  we  were  ordered  to  do ; 
but  perhaps  we  should  have  done  more  if  there 
had  been  any  new  field  for  us  to  enter  upon," 
replied  Deck.  "  Is  the  general  still  perched  upon 
that  long  hill?" 

"  No ;  he  came  down  some  time  ago.  In  fact, 
he  rode  over  into  the  village  as  soon  as  the 
three  companies  broke  into  the  place.  He  saw 
and  directed  the  action  from  the  time  the  men 
became  engaged,  and  he  has  just  received  the 
surrender  of  the  enemy,"  answered  Lieutenant 
Herndon. 

"  That  was  a  foregone  conclusion  from  the  be- 
ginning," added  Deck. 


80  ON    THE    STAFF 

"  It  was ;  but  the  enemy  fought  as  though 
they  had  all  been  tigers." 

"  I  don't  believe  our  men  skulked,"  suggested 
the  steamboat  operator.  "  I  wish  I  had  been 
there." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  inside  of  a  whole  skin  be- 
cause you  did  not  happen  to  be  there,"  said 
Herndon  with  a  smile. 

"  This  is  the  first  action  in  which  the  River- 
lawns  ever  were  engaged  when  I  was  not  with 
them,  and  I  am  sorry  I  was  left  out  on  one  side. 
But  we  had  a  pretty  sharp  fight  in  the  stern  of 
the  steamer ;  for  the  guard  left  on  board,  with  the 
captain  of  her,  fought  like  a  stack  of  wildcats, 
till  they  could  not  fight  any  more,  and  the  ser- 
geant in  command  was  ready  to  surrender ;  but 
one  of  them  would  not,  and  jumped  into  the  river, 
followed  by  four  others,"  Deck  explained. 

"  Then,  it  don't  appear  that  you  were  on  one 
side,  Deck,"  added  Herndon.  "  If  you  had  not 
captured  the  steamer,  some  of  the  enemy  might 
have  escaped." 

"If  our  men  had  let  them  do  so,"  said  Deck, 
with  a  smile.     "But  I  did  not  see  much  of  the 


THE   THOROUGH   DEFEAT   OF   THE   ENEMY       81 

fight.  Were  you  sent  on  board  with  any  mes- 
sage from  General  Woodbine  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly  with  a  message,  but  simply  to 
ascertain  the  condition  of  things  on  board  the 
steamer,"  replied  the  active  staff -officer.  - 

"  Well,  we  have  captured  the  Harbinger,  and 
the  small  boat  in  which  the  signalman  was  oper- 
ating ;  and  we  owe  our  good  fortune  in  this  affair 
to  him,  for  he  led  the  enemy  into  this  trap." 

"How  was  that?" 

"  You  must  excuse  me,  Frank ;  it  is  a  long 
story,  and  I  shall  have  to  recite  the  whole  of  it 
to  General  Woodbine,  when  you  will  be  likely  to 
hear  it,"  replied  Deck.  "I  want  to  ask  you  how 
the  Marion  Cavalry  behaved  on  the  field." 

"  That's  my  old  company,  and  I  hope  you 
haven't  any  doubt  as  to  how  they  behaved;  but 
I  can  truly  say  that  they  stood  up  to  the  work, 
and  behaved  as  though  they  wanted  to  make 
martyrs  of  themselves  in  a  holy  cause.  I  ob- 
served them,  and  I  can  truly  say  they  were  as 
brave  and  plucky  as  the  Riverlawns ;  and  perhaps 
they  were  inspired  to  do  so  well  by  the  brilliant 
fighting  of  Major  Lyon's  two  companies." 


82  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Thank  you,  Frank,  for  the  compliment  to  the 
original  Riverlawns,"  returned  Deck.  "  I  have 
never  seen  the  Marions  in  a  fight,  and  I  had  some 
curiosity  to  know  how  they  bore  themselves." 

"I  refer  you  to  the  general  and  the  major 
for  further  information,  for  you  may  think  I  am 
prejudiced  in  favor  of  my  old  company.  When 
the  thing  began  to  look  very  blue  for  the  enemy, 
and  they  had  been  really  whipped  if  they  had 
only  known  it,  the  squad  of  cavalry  they  brought 
up  from  the  boat  suddenly  attempted  to  escape 
by  galloping  down  a  side  street.  Captain  Rich- 
land sent  a  platoon  around  by  another  street, 
and  turned  them  back  after  a  sharp  little  brush. 
They  were  bound  for  the  steamer,  and  did  not 
appear  to  be  aware  that  she  had  been  captured. 
But  they  might  have  recaptured  the  Harbinger 
if  they  had  got  on  board  of  her." 

"Doubted  !  "  exclaimed  Deck.  "I  had  a 
squad  of  twenty  on  the  deck,  who  could  have 
taken  care  of  them ;  but  I  should  not  have  asked 
them  to  spill  their  blood.  I  should  have  simply 
hauled  in  the  gang-plank,  and  backed  the  boat 
away  from  the  beach." 


THE  THOROUGH  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ENEMY   83 

"Plenty  of  expedients  in  your  busy  head, 
Deck,"  laughed  Herndon,  as  he  began  to  wheel 
his  horse  towards  the  shore. 

"Where  is  the  general  now,  Frank?" 

"  I  left  him  in  the  square  in  the  centre  of  the 
village,  receiving  the  thanks  and  congratulations 
of  the  town  council." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  have  anything  more  to 
do  on  board  of  this  steamer,  and  Lieutenant  Knox 
is  abundantly  able  to  take  care  of  himself  and 
the  boat,"  said  Deck,  who  regarded  his  mission 
on  the  river  as  finished,  and  was  disposed  to 
report  to  the  general.  "  Good-evening,  Artie," 
he  continued,  as  his  brother,  the  orderly  of  his 
father,  rode  up  the  gang-plank  with  his  left  arm 
in  a  sling. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  are  wounded,  Artie,"  said 
Lieutenant  Herndon,  as  he  rode  down  to  the 
beach  on  the  way  to  the  commander  of  the  force. 

"  So  am  I,"  added  Deck,  with  abundant  sym- 
pathy and  sorrow  in  his  face.  "Is  it  a  bad 
wound,  Artie  ?  " 

"  Not  very  bad,  though  it  is  rather  painful.  It 
was   done    with  a  bayonet;   but  Dr.   Farnwright 


84  ON   THE   STAFF 

says  it  is  not  serious,  and  will  be  well  in  a 
week." 

"Why  don't  you  go  to  your  tent,  and  take  it 
easy,  Artie  ?  There  will  be  no  more  fighting  here 
to-night,  for  it  is  almost  dark,"  suggested  Deck. 

"  I  don't  want  to  go  on  the  sick-list  as  long  as 
I  can  hold  my  head  up.  Father  told  me  to  go 
to  my  tent;  but  I  begged  off,  and  the  general 
wanted  me  in  the  absence  of  his  staff.  He  orders 
you  to  march  your  prisoners  up  to  the  square, 
those  that  are  able  to  march,  and  to  send  the 
others  up  on  boards  or  litters." 

"I  will  give  the  order  to  Lieutenant  Knox," 
added  Deck,  as  his  brother  rode  down  the  plank. 

He  sent  a  man  for  Life  Knox,  who  was  walk- 
ing the  whole  length  of  the  boat  in  his  vigil  over 
her  and  the  prisoners.  He  delivered  the  order  of 
General  Woodbine  to  him,  and  directed  him  to 
carry  it  out  at  once.  Four  sentinels  were  sta- 
tioned on  the  forecastle,  and  four  more  in  the 
after  part  of  the  steamer,  nominally  as  a  guard 
over  the  wounded ;  but  they  were  kind-hearted 
fellows,  and  were  really  taking  care  of  them, 
giving  them  water,  and  whatever  else  they  wanted. 


THE   THOKOUGH   DEFEAT   OF   THE   ENEMY       85 

Captain  Hixton  and  the  mate  were  both  among 
them,  and  neither  of  them  was  likely  to  recover. 

The  rest  of  the  troopers  were  scattered  about  at 
their  leisure  ;  and  their  lieutenant  summoned  them 
to  the  forcastle,  and  directed  them  to  conduct  the 
uninjured  prisoners  forward.  There  were  only- 
three  of  them,  and  as  many  cavalrymen  brought 
them  to  the  place  indicated.  The  dozen  men 
were  then  directed  by  Knox  to  bring  some  ma- 
terials for  stretchers,  such  as  they  could  find  in 
the  cabin  or  elsewhere. 

The  men  then  tore  out  seven  berths  from  the 
staterooms  on  the  saloon-deck,  and  carried  them 
to  the  sick-bay,  which  had  been  made  out  of  the 
berth-sacks  of  the  crew.  The  wounded  were 
then  placed  on  these  stretchers,  and  two  of  them 
were  carried  by  the  four  men  who  had  been 
nurses  rather  than  guards.  Men  were  detailed 
to  be  the  bearers  of  the  other  five ;  and  the  pro- 
cession was  started  for  the  square,  with  the  three 
able  prisoners,  who  needed  no  guards,  for  they 
could  not  run  away  if  they  tried. 

"  Is  the  pilot  a  prisoner,  Lieutenant  Lyon  ? " 
asked  Life  when  he  had  sent  away  the  others. 


86  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Certainly ;  without  him  the  enemy  could 
have  done  nothing,"  replied  Deck,  as  Knox  hailed 
Milton  and  Sluder  on  the  hurricane  deck,  and 
told  them  to  send  down  the  pilot;  and  he  and 
the  assistant  pilot  came  down,  attended  by  the 
two  non-commissioned  officers. 

"  What  is  to  become  of  me,  Cap'n  ?  "  asked 
Thornfield,  who  had  been  seated  on  a  barrel, 
doubtless  ruminating  upon  the  mischief  he  had 
done  that  day  and  the  day  and  night  before. 
"  I  reckon  I  may  as  well  go  home  now." 

"I  reckon  not,"  replied  Deck,  whom  he  had 
addressed. 

"  I  am  not  a  military  man ;  I  have  not  borne 
arms  on  either  side,"  protested  the  farmer. 

"  The  more  shame  for  you,  an  able-bodied  man 
as  you  are !  "  said  Deck,  who  could  be  as  severe 
when  occasion  required  as  he  was  polite  at  other 
times. 

"I  have  had  to  take  care  of  my  farm." 

"And  raise  grain,  meat,  horses,  and  mules  for 
the  Confederate  army." 

"  I  haven't  raised  any  for  them." 

"  You  preferred    that   they  should    help  them- 


THE  THOROUGH  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ENEMY   87 

selves  at  the  barns  and  cribs  of  what  you  call 
your  Yankee  neighbors." 

"  But  just  look  at  it,  Cap'n ;  I  am  a  peace- 
able man,  and  you  have  no  right  to  make  a 
prisoner  of  war  of  me,"  argued  the  farmer. 

"  I  won't  argue  the  matter ;  Lieutenant  Knox 
will  send  you  to  General  Woodbine,  and  refer 
the  case  to  him.  If  he  chooses  to  let  you  go 
home  he  will ;  but  he  won't  do  it.  And  when 
I  tell  him  what  a  serviceable  steam-launch  you 
have  in  the  creek,  I  am  sure  he  will  want  that, 
and  any  grain,  meat,  horses,  and  mules  you  have 
also.  We  need  mules,  for  the  roads  are  very  bad 
at  this  season  of  the  year." 

"  If  you  mean  to  persecute  me,  I  suppose  I 
can't  help  myself ;  but  we  shall  have  an  army 
along  here  some  time  that  will  drive  every  one 
of  you  Yankees  out  of  the  State  of  Kentucky." 
Thornfield  concluded  with  a  bigger  expletive 
than  was  at  all  necessary  to  meet  even  his  con- 
dition. 

"  Well,  Leftenant,  what  do  you  want  of  me  ?  " 
demanded  the  pilot,  presenting  himself  before 
Knox. 


88  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Nothing  at  all,  only  to  give  you  a  little  walk 
for  exercise  as  far  as  the  square  of  the  town," 
replied  Life. 

"I  don't  think  I  need  a  walk  after  standing 
all  night  at  the  wheel  of  this  boat,"  replied 
Mr.  Kloots. 

"  I  think  you  do,  and  I  want  you  to  join  a 
little  procession  to  the  square ;  and  I  believe 
there  is  a  jail  there  for  your  accommodation  in 
case  you  make  a  row  on  the  way,"  returned 
Knox. 

"  But  I  am  not  a  soldier." 

"  You  don't  look  like  one.  No  talk  here, 
Pilot ;  if  you  have  got  anything  to  say,  get  it 
off  before  General  Woodbine.  You  fetched  this 
boat  up  here,  and  I  reckon  you  are  as  deep  in 
the  mud  as  the  rest  on  'em  are  in  the  mire. 
Form  a  line  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners ;  you, 
too,  t'other  pilot." 

A  corporal  and  four  men  marched  on  the 
flanks  of  the  party  with  drawn  sabres  in  their 
hands,  and  the  prisoners  were  not  tempted  to 
escape. 

Leaving   Lieutenant    Knox    and    ten   men   on 


THE  THOEOUGH  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ENEMY   89 

board,  including  the  two  engineei-s  and  Sergeant 
Sluder,  who  knew  sometliing  about  a  steamboat, 
for  he  had  worked  upon  one  on  the  Green  River, 
Deck  rode  down  the  gang-plank,  and  made  his 
wa}'  to  the  principal  street  of  the  town.  It  was 
beginning  to  be  dark;  and  as  he  approached  the 
square,  where  he  had  never  been  before,  he  saw 
a  company  of  the  Riverlawns  on  the  flanks  of 
a  body  of  prisoners  marching  up  towards  the 
road  to  the  camp. 

Nearly  or  quite  the  whole  of  the  population 
of  Barkville  were  assembled  in  the  square,  which 
lay  on  both  sides  of  the  main  street.  He  found 
General  Woodbine  with  Herndon,  and  two  com- 
panies of  cavalry  near  them.  As  the  young  lieu- 
tenant rode  into  the  square,  the  crowd  cheered 
him  vigorously,  saying  he  was  the  officer  who 
had  captured  the  steamer;  and  he  had  become  a 
hero  without  knowing  it.  He  saluted  the  people, 
and  moved  on,  blushing  like  a  maiden  at  this 
mark  of  approbation ;  but  it  did  not  turn  his 
head,  nor  even  inflate  his  vanity. 

"  Good-evening,  Lieutenant  Lyon ;  you  seem 
to   be  as  good    as  new,  and   you    do  not   appear 


90  ON   THE   STAFF 

to  be  wounded,"  said  the  general  as  he  came 
up  to  him. 

"Not  a  scratch,  General  Woodbine." 

"  You  have  done  your  duty,  as  you  always  do ; 
and  I  suppose  Lieutenant  Knox  is  in  charge  of 
the  steamer." 

"He  is,  sir.     Her  name  is  the  Harbinger." 

"  The  harbinger  of  defeat  to  the  company 
she  brought  to  this  town.  Is  all  well  on  board 
of  her?" 

"  All  is  well ;  but  I  suppose  Lieutenant  Knox 
will  need  some  instructions  for  the  night,"  re- 
plied Deck. 

"  You  may  return  to  the  camp  that  way,  and 
give  him  my  order  to  move  the  Harbinger  out 
about  three  hundred  feet,  and  anchor  her  there; 
I  suppose  she  has  an  anchor,"  said  the  comman- 
der. 

"I  saw  one  on  her  forecastle,  and  Sergeant 
Sluder  knows  how  to  handle  the  craft,"  an- 
swered the  staff-officer. 

"  Tell  him  to  wait  till  I  have  provisions  sent 
to  him  from  the  camp,"  added  the  general.  "  By 
the  way,  I  have  committed  the  engineer  and  the 


THE  THOROUGH  DEFEAT  OF  THE  ENEMY   91 

other   civilian   to   the   jail.      I   know   about   the 

pilot,  but  who  is  the  other  man?  " 

"He  is  the    signalman  who  was    in    the  small 

boat.     I  have  a  long  story  he  told  me,  to  relate 

to  you,"  replied  Deck. 

"  I  will  hear  that  this  evening  in  camp." 

The  staff-officer  rode  down  to   the  Harbinger 

with  the  order  of  the  general,  delivered  it,  and 

then  went  to  the  camp. 


92  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   VII 

A   VERY   RHEUMATIC    PATIENT 

Why  General  Woodbine  ordered  the  Harbinger 
to  be  anchored  in  the  stream  he  did  not  explain, 
though  doubtless  he  had  his  reasons  for  doing 
so.  Lieutenant  Knox's  men  who  had  been  sent 
on  shore  with  the  wounded  and  the  prisoners 
had  returned.  One  of  his  force  had  been  killed 
and  another  wounded,  the  latter  of  whom  had 
been  sent  to  the  square,  where'  the  general  had 
estabHshed  a  hospital.  The  dead  on  both  sides 
had  been  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  the  town. 

No  doubt  there  were  Secessionists,  perhaps 
many  of  them ;  but  they  did  not  flaunt  their 
politics  on  the  present  occasion,  for  it  was  not 
a  pleasant  time  to  do  so.  The  people  of  the 
town,  including  as  many  women  as  men,  volun- 
teered as  nurses,  and  all  the  doctors  assisted  in 
the  care  of  the  wounded ;  and  nothing  at  all  was 
said  in  either  hospital  about  the  burning  question 
that  divided  the  people. 


A   VERY   EHEUMATIC    PATIENT  93 

"  You  have  comfortable  quarters  in  the  saloon 
of  the  steamer,"  said  Lieutenant  Lyon  after  he 
had  delivered  his  ordere. 

"  I  reckon  some  of  us  will  have  to  keep  awake 
if  we  have  beds  to  sleep  in,"  replied  Knox. 

"  You  will  have  to  have  two  sentinels  on  duty 
all  night,  and  they  ought  to  keep  their  eyes  wide 
open,"  added  Deck. 

"I  shall  put  one  on  the  forecastle,  and  one 
at  the  stern  on  the  main  deck." 

"  I  am  confident  there  are  plenty  of  disloyal 
people  in  this  vicinity,  and  they  may  make  an 
attempt  in  the  night  to  recapture  the  Harbinger," 
suggested  Deck. 

"  If  they  do,  I  reckon  we  can  make  it  warm 
for  them ;  but  I  wish  I  had  a  squad  of  them 
artillerymen  here,  for  I  have  found  a  caisson 
of  ammunition  that  belongs  with  the  two  guns 
on  the  forecastle." 

"  I  will  suggest  the  idea  to  General  Woodbine, 
and  perhaps  he  will  send  some  of  those  artiller- 
ists on  board,"  replied  Deck,  as  he  wheeled  his 
horse  ready  to  leave. 

Ceph  felt  his  way  down  the  gang-plank  to  the 


94  ON   THE   STAFF 

beach,  and  then  started  off  at  a  gallop  up  the 
narrow  road  under  the  long  hill.  Just  as  he 
reached  the  cliff  he  heard  the  sharp  crack  of  a 
firearm,  and  felt  a  sharp  tug  at  his  cap.  He  did 
not  like  that  way  of  doing  things,  and  grasped 
his  revolver.  It  was  quite  dark,  and  he  could 
see  no  one  near.  But  he  turned  his  horse,  and 
ran  him  around  the  corner  of  the  hill.  As  he 
came  to  the  road  leading  up  to  the  one  on  which 
the  camp  was  located,  he  discovered  a  man  hasten- 
ing into  the  village,  which  was  only  across  the 
way.  A  light  from  a  window  enabled  him  to 
see  that  he  had  what  appeared  to  be  a  rifle  in 
his  hand. 

Deck  fired  off  every  shot  in  his  revolver  just 
as  the  man  was  dodging  into  a  house,  though 
with  what  effect  he  could  not  tell.  This  was 
not  war;  it  was  assassination,  and  it  made  the 
young  man  angry.  The  deed  was  unworthy  of  a 
soldier,  and  not  one  in  a  hundred  thousand  of 
the  Southern  army  would  have  been  guilty  of 
such  a  treacherous  act.  The  lieutenant  care- 
fully noted  the  appearance  and  locality  of  the 
house  in  which  the  ruffian  had  disappeared,  and 


A   VERY   RHEFMATIC   PATIENT  95 

then  rode  on  towards  the  camp.  But  he  had 
hardly  started  before  he  discovered  a  body  of 
men  with  a  wagon  moving  down  the  road.  It 
was  evidently  the  provisions,  under  convoy  of  a 
guard  of  troopers. 

"Can  you  tell  me,  Sergeant  Yowell,  where 
General  Woodbine  happens  to  be  just  now?" 
asked  Deck  of  the  non-commissioned  officer  in 
charge  of  the  guard. 

"He  is  behind  us  with  a  guard  on  his  way 
to  the  steamer,"  replied  Yowell,  saluting  when 
he  recognized  the  voice  of  the  staff-officer. 

Deck  acknowledged  the  salute,  and  rode  on. 

"  Who  comes  there  ?  "  demanded  the  leader  of 
a  squad  of  cavalry  he  next  encountered  in  the 
road. 

"Friend,"   replied   Deck. 

"Advance,  friend,  and  give   the   countersign." 

"  Harbinger,"  added  the  staff-officer,  who  was 
the  first  one  to  receive  it  from  the  general  as 
the  darkness  was  gathering  upon  them. 

"  Pass,  friend.  Oh,  it  is  Lieutenant  Lyon !  " 
exclaimed  Blenks,  who  was  in  command  of  about 
half   of   his  platoon,  as  he  saluted  him.     "  The 


96  ON   THE   STAFF 

general  will  be  glad  to  see  you,  for  he  has  been 
inquiring  for  you." 

Deck  rode  on  till  he  came  to  the  commander, 
who  recognized  him  promptly  in  the  darkness. 

"  What  are  you  about,  Lieutenant,  riding 
around  the  town  in  the  darkness  ?  Are  you 
alone  ?  "  demanded  the  general  rather  brusquely. 

"  I  am  alone ;  I  have  just  come  from  the 
Harbinger,  and  I  was  fired  at  down  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill,"  replied  Deck  lightly;  for  he  was 
disposed  now   to   make  the  best  of  the  affair. 

"  I  was  going  to  say  it  served  you  right,  but 
I  won't  say  that ;  and  it  ought  to  be  a  warning 
to  you.  We  can't  afford  to  have  good  officers 
expose  themselves  unnecessarily,"  continued  the 
commander.     "Were  you  hit?" 

"Not  in  the  flesh  and  blood,  but  in  my  cap; 
there  is  a  hole  in  it." 

"It  might  have  been  a  hole  in  your  head!  " 
exclaimed  General  Woodbine. 

"  But  it  was  not ;  "  and  Deck  proceeded  to 
relate  in  what  manner  and  where  the  hole  had 
been  made  in  his  cap. 

"  Forward,  Blenks !  and  stop  at  the  foot  of  the 


A  VERY   RHEUMATIC   PATIENT  97 

hill,"  said  the  commander ;  and  there  was  that 
in  his  tones  which  indicated  that  he  meant  some- 
thing to  those  within  hearing.  "  There  is  here, 
as  in  every  town  on  the  border,  a  nest  of  dis- 
loyal ruffians ;  and  if  they  want  to  shoot  they 
had  better  go  into  the  Confederate  army.  It  is 
not  safe  for  a  soldier  in  uniform  to  ride  about 
this  town  after  dark,  especially  when  it  is  as 
dark  as  it  is  to-night." 

"  It  did  not  occur  to  me  that  there  was  any 
danger.  I  have  a  request  to  make  from  Lieu- 
tenant Knox,  and  I  was  thinking  of  that  when 
I  heard  the  crack  of  the  rifle,"   added  Deck. 

"  I  have  five  and  twenty  men  in  my  guard, 
and  you  might  have  had  a  dozen  if  you  had 
asked  Knox  for  them.  What  is  his  request?" 
asked  the  commander. 

"  As  you  are  aware,  the  enemy  left  two  field- 
pieces  on  the  forecastle  of  the  Harbinger,  and 
he  has  found  a  caisson  of  ammunition  for  them. 
He  requests  that  some  artillerists  may  be  sent 
to  him." 

"He  shall  have  half  the  battery  and  two  of 
the  guns.     They  may  as  well  be  on  the  steamer 


98  ON   THE   STAFF 

as  in  the  camp,  to  which  I  ordered  them  when 
I  went  there.  Lieutenant  Herndon,  request  Cap- 
tain Batterson  to  send  two  of  his  guns  and  half 
of  his  company  to  the  steamer,  and  let  his  officer 
report  to  Lieutenant  Knox,  who  is  in  command 
of  the  boat." 

Tills  officer  saluted,  and  dashed  back  to  the 
camp,  where  he  and  the  general  had  been  long 
enough  to  eat  their  supper;  and  Deck  felt  an 
aching  void  at  his  stomach,  which  reminded  him 
that  he  had  eaten  nothing  since  dinner,  and  that 
his  supper  would  not  be  unwelcome.  At  the 
foot  of  the  hill  Lieutenant  Blenks  halted  his 
force,  as  he  had  been  ordered.  The  rattling  of 
the  sabres  and  the  tramp  of  the  horses'  feet  had 
drawn  a  small  crowd,  principally  negroes,  mostly 
of  the  juvenile  order,  from  the  levee,  where  they 
had  been  watching  the  steamer. 

Deck  conducted  the  commander  to  the  house 
in  which  the  rifleman  had  disappeared.  It  was 
a  wooden  building,  and  looked  as  though  it 
might  be   inhabited  by  respectable    people. 

"  Who  lives  in  that  house,  my  boy  ? "  asked 
the  general  of  a  little  darky  near  him. 


A    VERY    RHEUMATIC    PATIENT  99 

"Mars'r  Sexton,  sar,"  replied,  the  boy. 

"  Sexton  ?  Is  he  the  sexton  of  the  town,  who 
buries  people  after  they  are  dead  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  his  name  is  Sexton,"  replied,  a  white 
man  who  had  just  come  on  the  ground. 

"  What  is  he  ?  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he  ?  " 
inquired  General  Woodbine. 

"He  keeps  a  store  up  in  the  square,  and  he 
is  Secesh  way  up  to  the  handle,"  answered  the 
villager. 

"  And  you  are  not  Secesh  ?  " 

"  No,  sir !  I  belong  to  the  Home  Guard,  not 
the  State  Guard ;  and  my  name  is  Limber.  If  I 
can  do  anything  to  assist  you,  sir,  I  am  right 
ready  to  do  it,"  replied  the  villager.  "  I  am  a 
tailor,  and  ni}^  shop  is  next  to  the  jail.  Just 
about  dark  Sexton  came  to  the  jail  when  I  was 
standing  there,  and  wanted  to  see  Ethan  Thorn- 
field;  and  the  jailer  let  him  in.  The  two  senti- 
nels interfered ;  but  the  man  in  charge  said  he  had 
an  order,  and  they  wanted  to  see  it,  but  it  was 
too  dark  -to  read  it.  Sexton  stayed  there  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  and  then  he  left  the  square. 
That's  all  I  know  about  it." 


100  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Limber,"  said  the  general. 

While  this  conversation  was  in  progress.  Lieu- 
tenant Blenks  had  surrounded  Sexton's  house 
with  troopers.  The  commander  and  his  staff- 
officer  then  rode  to  the  front  of  the  dwelling, 
followed  by  the  tailor.  The  chief  of  the  escort 
had  already  pounded  on  the  front  door  with  the 
handle  of  his  sabre,  but  no  one  opened  it.  He 
repeated  the  summons  several  times  with  no  dif- 
ferent result. 

"Break  in  the  door!  "  ordered  the  commander. 

Blenks  dismounted  four  of  his  men  to  execute 
this  order.  Limber  assisted  them,  and  procured 
a  round  stick  six  inches  in  diameter  from  where  a 
piece  of  bad  road  had  been  corduroyed;  and  the 
soldiers  carried  it  to  the  house.  With  one  blow 
of  this  battering-ram  the  door  gave  way ;  and  the 
lieutenant,  followed  by  his  four  dismounted  men, 
entered  the  house. 

"  Is  Mr.  Sexton  at  home  ?  "  asked  the  officer 
of  a  woman  who  came  rushing  towards  the  door 
when  the  crash  came. 

"He  is;  but  he  can't  be  seen  now,  for  he  is 
sick  abed,"  she  replied,  very  much  agitated. 


A   VERY   RHEUMATIC   PATIENT  101 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  hira  ? "  demanded 
Blenks. 

"He's  got  the  rheumatis'  so  he  can  hardly 
move  on  his  bed,"  answered  the  woman,  who 
was  probably  his  wife. 

"  How  long  has  he  been  sick  ?  " 

"  Taken  tliis  afternoon,  and  could  hardly  get 
into  the  house,"  said  the  woman,  who  presented 
a  very  respectable  appearance. 

"  Perhaps  I  can  do  something  for  him,  and 
I  want  to  see  him." 

"  You  can't  see  him !  "  protested  the  wife  of 
the  sufferer.  "  Whoever  heard  the  like  ?  You 
break  into  a  man's  house,  and  you  want  to  see 
one  who  is  in  the  most  intense  pain." 

"  That's  just  the  situation,  ma'am,"  replied  the 
lieutenant  as  coolly  as  he  always  discharged  his 
duty. 

"  But  I  say  you  can't  see  him !  "  persisted  Mrs. 
Sexton. 

"  And  I  say  I  can  and  I  will  see  him,"  added 
Blenks.  "If  you  don't  step  out  of  the  way,  I 
shall  be  reluctantly  compelled  to  order  my  men 
to  remove  you." 


102  ON   THE   STAFF 

"Are  you  a  Christian  man  to  do  such  a  deed 
as  this  ?  "  demanded  the  wife  of  the  invalid. 

"  I  am  a  Christian  man,  but  not  a  Secesh 
Christian.  I  have  no  time  to  argue  the  ques- 
tion on  theological  grounds,"  continued  the  lieu- 
tenant, as  he  pushed  her  aside,  and  placed  one 
of  his  men  near  her.  "  Come  with  me,  Peter- 
son !  " 

The'  man  indicated  followed  him,  both  with 
drawn  sabres,  into  a  room  leading  out  of  the  rear 
of  the  hall,  without  the  ceremony  of  knocking. 
On  the  bed  lay  a  man,  apparently  about  forty 
years  old,  writhing  and  groaning  as  though  every 
bone  in  his  body  had  been  recently  broken. 

"Well,  Mr.  Sexton,  how  do  you  find  your- 
self?" asked  Blenks. 

"  Very  bad ;  very  bad  indeed  —  oh,  oh,  oh  !  " 
groaned  the  sufferer.  "Do  you  Avant  to  see  me? 
Oh,  oh,  oh !  " 

"I  wanted  to  inquire  how  your  rheumatism 
was,"  replied  the  lieutenant. 

"  It's  awful !  Oh,  oh,  oh  !  I'm  afraid  it's  go- 
ing to  kill  me  this  time,"  yelled  the  patient ;  and 
he  might  have  been  heard  by  the  troopers  outside. 


A    VERY    RHEUMATIC    PATIENT  103 

"But  you  have  got  too  many  bed-clothes  on 
you,  man.  Pull  them  off,  Peterson,"  said  the 
officer. 

The  cavalryman  obeyed  the  order  to  the  letter, 
assisted  by  the  lieutenant ;  and  Sexton  lay  on  the 
bed  clothed  in  nothing  but  his  shirt.  He  ceased 
to  howl  then,  and  Blenks  proceeded  to  examine 
his  body.  On  the  right  thigh  he  found  a  ban- 
dage soaked  in  blood,  and  the  sheet  in  the  same 
condition. 

"  I  thought  you  would  feel  better  if  we  took 
off  the  bed-clothes,"  said  Blenks.  "  But  where 
did  you  get  that  wound  on  your  leg,  Mr.  Sexton  ? 
Rheumatism  don't  break  out  in  just  that  way." 

But  the  wounded  man  made  no  reply.  Pe- 
terson had  taken  a  rifle  from  a  couple  of  pegs 
in  the  room,  and  with  the  ramrod  found  that  it 
was  not  loaded.  He  had  not  had  time  to  reload 
it  after  he  had  fired  at  Deck. 

"  I  suppose  you  did  it  with  that  rifle  ? "  sug- 
gested the  lieutenant. 

But  Sexton  made  no  reply ;  and  leaving  Peter- 
son, Blenks  sent  the  wife  back  to  her  charge, 
and  went  out  to  report  to  the  general. 


104  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   VIII 

ON    BOARD   OF   THE   CAPTURED    LAUNCH 

General  Woodbine  was  becoming  somewhat 
impatient  at  the  prolonged  absence  of  Lieutenant 
Blenks,  and  was  on  the  point  of  sending  one  of 
the  dismounted  men  to  ascertain  what  he  was 
doing,  when  he  appeared  at  the  door.  But  he 
was  always  disposed  to  be  reasonable,  and  he 
found  no  fault. 

"  Have  you  court-martialled  the  man.  Lieuten- 
ant? "  asked  the  commander,  when  he  came  to  the 
door,  where  he  could  be  seen  by  the  light  of  a 
fire  the  little  darkies  had  kindled  in  front  of  the 
house. 

"  I  have  not ;  but  the  man's  wife  would  not  let 
me  into  the  room,  and  I  had  to  force  a  passage," 
replied  Blenks.  "Then  Sexton  had  the  rheuma- 
tism the  worst  kind,  and  I  think  you  could  hear 
him  yell  with  the  pain  out  here ;  and  I  had  to 
cure  him  before  I  could  do  anything  more." 


ON  BOARD  OF  THE  CAPTURED  LAUNCH   105 

"  Cure  him !  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  cured 
him  of  rheumatism  in  the  time  you  have  been  in 
the  house  ?  "  demanded  the  general. 

"  That  is  what  I  did ;  at  least,  the  patient  did 
not  complain  any  more  of  rheumatism  after  I  had 
treated  him,"  replied  the  lieutenant  as  seriously 
as  though  he  had  been  at  a  funeral. 

"  How  did  you  treat  him,  to  work  such  a  won- 
derful cure  ?  " 

"  I  simply  ordered  Peterson  to  pull  all  the 
clothes  from  the  bed ;  and  when  he  lay  there 
with  nothing  on  but  his  shirt,  I  discovered  a 
wound  on  the  back  of  his  right  thigh,  his  gar- 
ment and  the  sheet  covered  with  fresh  blood." 

"  That  was  certainly  a  wonderful  cure,"  added 
the  commander,  laughing  heartily,  in  which  he 
was  joined  by  all  within  hearing.  "  You  say. 
Lieutenant  Lyon,  that  you  emptied  your  revolver 
upon  him  in  the  pursuit  you  made  of  him?" 

"  I  did,  sir ;  and  though  it  was  very  dark,  I 
thought  I  must  have  hit  him  in  firing  so  many 
times,"  replied  Deck. 

"  I  found  the  rifle  in  the  room,  and  the  barrel 
was  empty,"  said  Lieutenant  Blenks. 


106  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  did  not  give  him  time  to  load  it  again; 
and  if  it  had  been  ten  rods  farther,  I  should 
have  run  him  down  with  my  horse,"  added  Deck. 

"  Put  two  reliable  men  in  the  house.  Lieuten- 
ant Blenks,  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  assassin, 
for  we  shall  want  him  in  the  morning,"  said  the 
commander. 

"  Corporal  Kinnell  and  Peterson,  now  in  the 
house,  may  attend  to  this  duty,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

Blenks  formed  his  men  again  ;  and  they  marched 
down  to  the  levee,  where  the  wagon  and  its 
guard  had  already  arrived,  and  the  men  were 
eating  their  supper  by  the  light  of  a  fire  in  one 
of  those  iron  baskets  used  on  Western  steam- 
boats in  the  night  to  enable  the  hands  to  do 
their  work  at  the  landings.  Lieutenant  Knox 
presented  himself  promptly  before  the  general 
as  he  rode  upon  the  forecastle  attended  by  his 
aid. 

The  military  commander  of  the  boat  received 
his  instructions  after  he  had  reported  that  noth- 
ing had  transpired. 

"  Lieutenant  Lyon,  I  think  I  should  feel  better 


ON  BOARD  OF  THE  CAPTURED  LAUNCH   107 

if  you  remained  on  board  of  the  Harbinger  to- 
night," said  the  general,  after  he  had  been  silent 
for  some  time,  as  though  he  was  engaged  in  re- 
flection over  the  situation. 

"  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  remain  on  board, 
sir.  I  should  be  as  comfortable  here  as  in  the 
tent,  and  I  am  willing  to  admit  that  I  am  very 
tired,"  replied  Deck. 

"  You  can  take  a  stateroom  "  — 

"  Boat  coming  alongside !  "  called  the  sentinel 
in  the  after  part  of  the  steamer. 

"  Where  from  ?  "  demanded  Knox. 

"From  down  the  river,"  replied  the  sentinel. 
"  It  is  a  steam-launch." 

"  Send  the  launch  forward,"  added  the  lieu- 
tenant in  command. 

"  I  don't  believe  there  is  more  than  one  steam- 
launch  in  this  part  of  the  country,"  said  General 
Woodbine.     "  It  must  be  Thornfield's  craft." 

Deck  had  told  the  commander  the  substance 
of  the  farmer's  story,  though  not  in  detail,  for 
the  want  of  time.  Presently  the  little  steamer 
appeared  abreast  of  the  forecastle.  It  contained 
three    negroes,   one    of  Avhom  was    nearly  white, 


108  ON   THE    STAFF 

and  he  seemed  to  be  the  engineer.  Knox  went 
to  the  side  as  soon  as  the  craft  appeared. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  demanded  the  lieuten- 
ant. 

"  Missus  sent  the  boat  down  for  Mars'r  Thorn- 
field,"  replied  the  engineer. 

"  Missus  will  have  to  get  along  without  him 
for  a  wliile,"  interposed  the  general.  "  Thorn- 
field  is  shut  up  in  the  jail." 

"Lord  o'  massy!  What's  that  for,  Mars'r?" 
exclaimed  the  man  with  a  nearly  white  face. 

"  You  needn't  ask  any  questions,  for  you  were 
with  him  on  his  trip  down  the  river  when  he 
went  for  the  steamer  to  attack  this  place.  If 
you  were  not  a  servant  who  had  to  obey  your 
master's  orders,  I  should  have  you  taken  on  the 
same  charge,"  replied  the  commander. 

"  In  that  case  I  have  to  go  back  and  tell  missus 
about  it,"  added  the  engineer,  apparently  con- 
founded by  the  situation. 

"  You  will  not  go  back  in  that  boat,"  said  the 
commander.  "  Take  possession  of  it,  Lieutenant 
Knox." 

The  sentinel  who  had  taken  the  painter  when 


ON"  BOARD   OF   THE   CAPTURED   LAUNCH      109 

it  was  thrown  on  deck  by  one  of  the  other  two 
men  hauled  it  taut,  and  made  it  fast.  Knox 
ordered  the  three  men  on  deck,  and  they  promptly 
obeyed  his  order. 

"Wot  we  gwine  to  do  now,  Mars'r?"  asked 
one  of  the  men,  who  was  more  nearly  a  pure 
African ;  and  the  lieutenant  looked  to  the  gen- 
eral to  answer  this  question. 

"  We  take  possession  of  the  boat  because  it 
was  used  yesterday  in  a  treasonable  enterprise  ; 
and  we  shall  make  a  better  use  of  it  than  the 
owner  did,"  said  the  commander.  "  You  three 
can  go  where  you  please ;  we  don't  want  any- 
thing of  you." 

General  Woodbine,  who  had  left  his  escort 
on  the  levee,  then  descended  the  gang-plank, 
and  returned  to  the  camp,  leaving  Deck  on  the 
boat ;  and  his  first  business  was  to  get  his  supper, 
for  he  was  about  as  hungry  as  a  lieutenant  at 
eighteen  could  be.  Life  had  not  finished  his 
supper  when  the  general  arrived,  and  the  staff- 
officer  joined  him.  The  cooks  in  the  camp  had 
given  the  soldiers  a  feast ;  for  the  commissary 
officer  had  bought  several  calves  at  the  slaughter- 


110  ON   THE   STAFF 

house  near  the  village,  and  the  troopers  had  fried 
veal  for  supper ;  and  a  quantity  of  this  viand 
had  been  sent  down  to  the  Harbinger. 

The  cook  and  a  few  waiters  had  been  left  on 
the  steamer;  and  the  supper  had  been  kept  hot 
in  the  kitchen  by  the  former,  while  the  latter 
had  been  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  force  on 
board.  The  negroes  were  all  Union  men,  even 
those  who  were  too  much  attached  to  the  families 
to  leave  them.  Life  called  his  waiter,  and  re- 
quired him  to  bring  his  supper  from  the  kitchen. 
They  ate  their  fill,  and  talked  themselves  empty 
over  the  meal ;  but  Deck  was  himself  again  when 
it  was  finished. 

Then  they  went  up  into  the  saloon,  and  se- 
lected a  couple  of  staterooms ;  and  the  waiter  in 
charge  there  gave  Deck  the  bridal  chamber. 
From  the  servants,  who  were  disposed  to  concili- 
ate their  new  masters,  they  learned  all  about  the 
steamer,  and  the  condition  of  things  down  the 
river.  General  Crittenden  had  gone  to  Nashville ; 
but  two  of  the  steamers  which  had  been  sent  to 
Gainsboro  for  the  use  of  his  army  had  not  been 
needed,  and  the  saloon  steward  said  they  had  been 


ON  BOARD  OF  THE  CAPTURED  LAUNCH   111 

sent  up  the  river  with  a  force  on  board  of  each 
for  a  f oraging-expeclition ;  for  supplies  were  very 
scarce  after  the  army  had  passed  through  the 
country. 

"  Two  steamers  !  "  exclaimed  Deck. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  steward,  who  appeared 
to  be  a  very  intelligent  man,  and  willing  to  tell 
all  he  knew  about  the  army  of  the  enemy.  "  The 
other  is  the  New  Moon ;  but  she  had  to  wait 
till  they  could  get  provisions  enough  for  the  sol- 
diers and  crew  up  the  river." 

"Then,  she  has  not  got  into  Kentucky  yet?" 

"Not  yet,  sir." 

This  was  valuable  information  to  the  officers ; 
and  Deck  immediately  wrote  a  note  to  General 
Woodbine,  in  which  it  was  embodied.  The  artil- 
lery had  not  yet  arrived ;  but  the  writer  was  con- 
fident that  the  force  on  board  could  defend  the 
Harbinger  if  she  was  attacked  in  the  night  after 
it  came.  This  note  was  sent  by  a  couple  of 
troopers ;  and  then  Deck  and  Life  walked  all  over 
the  steamer,  to  see  that  everything  was  in  order. 

They  found  nothing  to  vex  their  spirits  till 
they  came  to  the  steam-launch  made  fast  at  the 


112  ON   THE   STAFF 

forecastle.  The  iron  basket  had  been  replenished 
with  light  wood,  and  the  forward  part  of  the 
boat  was  well  illuminated.  On  the  stern  was 
painted  the  name  of  Hephzibah,  which  was  prob- 
ably the  name  of  the  owner's  wife  or  daughter. 
It  was  certainly  Scriptural ;  and  Deck  wondered 
if  they  pronounced  it  "  Hipsy,"  as  he  had  heard 
it  called  in  New  Hampshire. 

"  What  has  become  of  those  three  darkies  ? " 
asked  Deck. 

"  I  reckon  they  went  on  shore,  for  I  heard  one 
of  them  say  they  would  have  to  huf  it  home," 
replied  Life. 

"  I  am  afraid  they  will  not  '  huf '  it  home  to- 
night," added  Deck,  as  he  let  himself  down  into 
the  launch,  and  was  followed  by  the  tall  Kentuck- 
ian."  The  engineer  is  a  bright  fellow;  and  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  he  don't  mean  to  go  home 
without  this  boat,  and  we  must  contrive  to  dis- 
appoint him." 

"  If  I  was  in  his  place  I  shouldn't  want  any 
better  job  than  to  get  possession  of  this  craft  some 
time  in  the  night  in  spite  of  sentinels  and  sabres," 
said  Life. 


ON   BOARD   OF   THE   CAPTURED   LAUNCH      113 

"No  more  should  I,"  answered  Deck.  "Fronk- 
lyn  and  I  did  a  job  of  the  same  khid  not  long  ago 
at  the  Beech  Grove  camp  of  the  enemy.  There  is 
something  forward  that  does  duty  as  a  cabin,  and 
I  suppose  Thornfield  slept  in  it  on  liis  trips  up 
and  down  the  river.  I  will  sleep  in  that  cabin 
to-night,  Life." 

"  You,  Deck !  "  exclaimed  Knox,  as  the  for- 
mer went  forward  to  look  into  the  apartment. 
"  Alone  ?  " 

"No;  I  will  take  Drye  with  me,"  replied 
Deck,  as  he  opened  the  door  of  the  cabin. 

It  was  a  snug  little  apartment  with  two  berths, 
one  on  each  side.  He  struck  his  cap  against  a 
lantern  suspended  from  the  ceiling.  Life  lighted 
the  lamp  in  it,  and  they  had  a  good  view  of  the 
cabin.  The  beds  were  good,  and  were  made  up 
with  all  the  appliances  used  in  a  chamber.  It 
looked  like  very  comfortable  quarters  to  those 
who  had  been  accustomed  to  sleeping  on  the 
ground,  sometimes  with  plenty  of  straw,  and 
sometimes  without  anything  but  a  blanket. 
There  was  even  a  table  turned  up  against  the 
forward  end  of  the  cabin. 


114  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  I  can  sleep  like  a  bug  in  a  rug  in  here,"  said 
Deck  when  he  had  completed  his  survey. 

"I  should  think  you  might,"  added  Life. 
"  But  there  is  no  need  of  a  member  of  the 
general's  staff  doing  this  kind  of  duty  when  we 
have  plenty  of  men  on  board  of  the  steamer." 

"  It  pleases  my  fancy  to  do  so,  and  I  am  tired 
enough  to  sleep  like  a  coon  at  noonday,"  replied 
Deck;  and  that  settled  it. 

A  thundering  racket,  with  the  shouts  of  officers 
on  shore,  caused  them  to  hasten  to  the  deck  of 
the  Harbinger.  They  found  the  entire  battery 
of  Captain  Battereon  on  the  beach,  ready  to 
march  on  board.  The  men  were  dismounted ; 
and  each  of  the  four  guns  was  drawn  by  only 
two  horses,  instead  of  six,  which  the  bad  con- 
dition of  the  roads  required.  A  conference  of 
all  the  officers  was  now  the  first  thing  to  be  had. 
The  captain  of  the  company  of  artillery  was  now 
the  ranking-officer,  though  a  staff-officer  could 
take  the  command  if  he  decided  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  do  so ;  but  they  had  no  difficulty 
about  this  matter,  though  a  note  from  the  general, 
delivered  by  Captain  Batterson,  required  him  to 


ON  BOARD  OF  THE  CAPTURED  LAUNCH   115 

assume  command  of  the  steamer  and  her  forces 
if  the  occasion  demanded  it. 

The  guns  were  disposed  upon  the  main  deck 
by  the  captain  of  the  battery ;  and  except  a  guard, 
the  troop  were  sent  to  the  cabin  to  sleep. 

Deck  decided  to  move  the  Hipsy  to  the 
stern  of  the  steamer,  and  he  went  on  board  of 
her  with  Drye.  They  talked  a  while,  and  then 
turned  in,  each  taking  a  berth  in  the  cabin.  Both 
of  them  were  tired  enough  to  drop  asleep  in- 
stantly. The  night  was  cool,  and  Deck  closed 
the  cabin-door  without  disturbing  himself  at  all 
in  regard  to  the  subject  of  ventilation.  It  would 
have  been  wise  for  him  to  ask  Knox  for  a 
sentinel  to  be  placed  in  the  stern  of  the  boat ; 
but  he  did  not  think  of  it,  for  he  did  not  con- 
sider that  he  was  engaged  in  a  dangerous  en- 
terprise. He  slept  like  a  tired  young  fellow,  and 
Drye  like  one  a  little  older. 

They  had  slept  till  nearly  daylight  when  the 
engineer  spoke  to  Deck,  and  declared  that  the 
launch  was  underway. 


116  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER    IX 

THE    NEW    MOON    RISES    ON    THE    HIPSY 

Lieutenant  Lyon  awoke  at  once  when  Cor- 
poral Drye  spoke  to  him,  and  immediately  real- 
ized that  the  Hipsy  was  in  motion ;  for  he 
could  not  only  feel  the  vibration  of  the  boat, 
but  he  could  hear  the  thump  of  the  propeller. 
He  jumped  out  of  bed,  and  proceeded  to  dress 
himself,  for  he  had  retired  for  the  night  just  as 
though  he  had  been  in  his  own  chamber  at  River- 
lawn;  while  his  companion  was  not  obliged  to 
perform  this  ceremony,  for  he  had  turned  in  just 
as  he  did  when  he  slept  on  the  ground. 

The  light  had  gone  out,  and  the  cabin  was  as 
dark  as  "  a  stack  of  black  cats."  But  Deck  was 
not  a  dude,  and  he  had  no  difficulty  in  dressing 
himself  in  the  gloom  of  the  morning.  He  had  no 
idea  what  time  it  was,  whether  it  was  last  night 
or  this  morning.  In  two  minutes  he  was  ready 
for  business,  and  there  seemed  to  be  some  on  hand 


THE   NEW   MOON    RISES   ON   THE    HIPSY        117 

to  be  done.  Of  course  the  conclusion  of  the 
lieutenant  was  that  the  negro  engineer  of  the 
farmer  had  taken  the  boat,  though  some  other 
person  might  have  captured  her. 

Deck  could  tell  precisely  how  it  had  been  done, 
though  he  had  slept  like  a  log  through  the  whole 
of  the  operation.  The  negro  had  swum  out  to 
the  craft,  cast  off  the  fast  that  held  her  to  the 
Harbinger,  and  permitted  the  current  to  float  her 
down  the  river  till  it  was  safe  for  him  to  climb 
on  board  of  her.  It  was  easy  enough,  and  Deck 
had  depended  upon  the  sentinel  at  the  stern  of 
the  steamer  to  watch  the  boat. 

"  We  will  have  her  back  to  her  berth  very 
soon,  Drye,"  said  he,  as  he  took  hold  of  the 
handle  of  the  door.  "Don't  speak  till  we  find 
who  is  in  possession  of  the  craft." 

He  spoke  in  a  whisper;  but  the  cabin  was  in 
the  forward  part  of  the  launch,  the  engine  was 
a  little  abaft  the  middle,  and  the  wheel  was  at 
the  stern  instead  of  in  the  bow,  where  it  is  usu- 
ally placed.  Deck  stooped  and  crept  out  of  the 
cabin.  The  day  was  just  breaking  in  the  east, 
and  it  was  not  so  dark  as  it  had  been.     A  man 


118  ,  ON   THE   STAFF 

was  at  work  on  the  furnace,  and  appeared  to  be 
on  his  knees,  cleaning  out  the  grate. 

At  the  wheel  stood  a  man  dressed  in  a  blue 
blouse  or  jumper;  and  this  was  the  dress  of 
Thornfield's  engineer,  so  that  he  had  no  difficulty 
in  recognizing  him,  even  in  the  dim  light  of  the 
morning.  Deck  had  his  revolver  in  his  hand  ;  and 
the  first  intimation  he  gave  of  his  presence  was 
by  firing  a  shot  at  the  engineer,  who  was  now  at 
the  wheel.  But  he  fired  over  the  man's  head ; 
for  he  did  not  intend  to  kill  or  even  wound  him, 
unless  he  showed  fight. 

"  Gorra  mighty !  "  yelled  the  one  at  the  fur- 
nace.    "  Don't  shoot,   Mars'r !  " 

Deck  walked  aft  as  far  as  the  wheel,  taking 
no  notice  of  the  frightened  fellow  at  the  engine. 
He  pointed  his  weapon  at  the  engineer,  who  was 
the  active  spirit  of  the  enterprise. 

"  It  is  not  necessary  to  shoot  me,  Mars'r,"  said 
the  present  helmsman,  who  was  as  near  a  white 
man  as  he  could  be  and  still  be  a  negro.  "I 
give  it  up.  I  wanted  the  boat,  and  I  took  her 
because  she  will  be  a  great  loss  to  Mars'r  Thorn- 
field;  but  I  give  her  up  now.     I  did  not  know 


Deck  had  his  revolver  in  his  hand.' 


Paqe  118. 


THE    NEW    MOON    RISES    ON    THE    HIPSY        119 

anybody  was  on  board  of  her.  I  only  do  my 
duty  to  mars'r." 

"I  don't  blame  you,  for  I  should  have  done 
the  same  if  I  had  been  in  your  place,"  replied 
Deck,  taking  a  just  view  of  the  situation.  "  But 
you  are  bound  to  have  the  launch ;  and  as  I  am 
not  in  your  place,  I  shall  take  care  that  you  don't 
get  hold  of  her  again.  I  will  take  the  wheel  my- 
self." 

"I  will  steer  her  for  you,  Mars'r,"  added  the 
engineer. 

"  I  will  not  trouble  you  to  do  so,"  replied  the 
lieutenant,  taking  hold  of  the  spokes. 

Corporal  Drye  had  gone  to  the  engine,  and  sent 
the  African  there  to  the  bow  of  the  boat,  where 
he  could  not  get  up  any  conspiracy  with  his 
companion.  He  went  to  work  first  at  the  fur- 
nace, and  did  his  work  more  thoroughly  than  the 
negro ;  for  the  coal  did  not  burn  at  all  freely,  and 
the  craft  was  not  making  more  than  four  miles 
an  hour.  Drye  had  banked  the  fire  the  night  be- 
fore, and  the  man  had  not  properly  opened  it. 

"More  steam.  Corporal!"  called  Deck  to  his 
cabin-mate.     "  We  are  moving  at  a  snail's  pace." 


120  OJSr   THE   STAFF 

"I  am  trying  to  get  a  little  more  warmth  in 
the  boiler,  for  the  steam  is  very  low ;  I've  got 
the  clinkers  out,  and  she  will  steam  better  in  a 
few  minutes,"  replied  the  white  engineer. 

"  What  is  your  name  ? "  asked  Deck,  turning 
to  the  man  he  had  displaced   at  the  wheel. 

"  My  name  is  Cephas,  sir ;  but  they  all  call  me 
'  Seef,'  "  answered  the  man. 

"  Well,  Seef,  you  have  nothing  more  to  do, 
and  you  may  sit  down  and  make  youreelf  com- 
fortable," added  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  can't  make  myself  very  comfortable  now 
I've  lost  the  boat  again,"  answered  Seef,  as  he 
seated  himself  on  the  cushioned  transom  that  ex- 
tended around  the  stern  of  the  craft. 

"Are  you  a  slave?" 

"I  am,  Mars'r." 

"  Then,  I  shouldn't  suppose  you  would  care 
much  for  the  property  of  your  master." 

"I  take  care  of  it  just  as  if  it  were  my  own, 
sir.  I  would  like  my  freedom ;  but  mars'r  and 
all  the  family  treat  me  kindly,  and  I  would  not 
leave  them,  even  to  be  free,"  replied  Seef. 

"You    seem   to  be   a  very  intelligent  fellow; 


THE   NEW   MOON   RISES   ON  THE  HIPSY        121 

can  you  read  and  write  ?  "  asked  Deck,  much  in- 
terested in  the  man. 

"  I  can,  sir ;  and  my  mars'r  winked  at  it.  He 
always  trusted  me.  He  has  sent  me  down  to 
New  Orleans  before  the  war  with  fourteen  horses 
to  sell ;  and  I  sold  them  all,  and  brought  back 
the  draft  for  the  money,"  ^  said  Seef  proudly. 

"You  have  been  a  useful  man  to  your  mas- 
ter?" 

"  I  tried  to  be,  sir.  What  are  you  going  to  do 
with  me,  Mars'r?" 

This  question  was  doubtless  called  forth  by  the 
course  of  the  Hipsy ;  for  Deck  had  thrown  the 
wheel  over,  and  headed  her  for  the  Tennessee 
shore.  He  did  not  choose  to  answer  the  ques- 
tion, and  he  simply  evaded  it. 

The  speed  of  the  launch  rapidly  increased 
under  the  experienced  management  of  Corporal 
Drye ;  and  by  the  time  she  was  approaching  the 
other  side  of  the  stream.  Deck  estimated  that  she 
was    making    eight    knots    an    hour ;     and    Seef 


1  The  author  met  this  man,  or  one  on  the  same  errand,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland  River,  some  forty  years  ago  ; 
and  he  was  a  slave. 


122  ON"   THE   STAFF 

claimed  that  lie  had  made  nine  in  her  between 
two  points  that  distance  apart. 

"  Where  did  you  learn  to  run  a  steam-engine, 
Seef?"  asked  the  lieutenant,  in  order  to  change 
the  subject  of  the  conversation. 

"  The  engineer  that  brought  the  boat  up  from 
where  she  was  built  taught  me  to  run  her,  and  to 
take  the  machine  all  to  pieces.  Mars'r  brought 
me  a  book  from  Nashville  about  engines,  and  I 
have  studied  it  a  great  deal." 

"  Do  you  see  any  landing-place,  Corporal  ? " 
asked  Deck,  as  they  approached  the  high  bank  on 
the  Tennessee  side. 

"  A  cat  could  not  climb  up  that  bank,"  replied 
the  acting  engineer. 

"  You  are  going  to  land  me  and  Jake  over  here, 
Mars'r?  "  asked  Seef,  with  a  very  lugubrious  face. 

"I  don't  like  to  leave  you  on  the  other  side, 
where  you  can  get  at  this  boat  again.  You  are 
altogether  too  smart  to  lie  around  loose  in  these 
times,"  replied  Deck.  "I  dare  say  you  will  find 
a  chance  to  get  across  the  river ;  but  I  advise  you 
not  to  meddle  with  the  Hipsy,  for  we  shall  not 
let  you  off  so  easy  next  time  you  take  her." 


THE  NEW   MOON   RISES   ON   THE   HIPSY        123 

"No  ferry  here  now,  Mars'r,  and  I  don't  know 
how  we  can  get  across,"  said  Seef. 

"You  will  find  a  wa}^,"  added  Deck  lightly. 

"  We  shall  both  starve  to  death  over  here," 
suggested  the  engineer. 

"  Have  you  no  provisions  on  board  ?  " 

"  Plenty  of  bacon  and  crackers." 

"Take  all  you  want,  Seef." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Seef,  his  face  bright- 
ening up  at  once ;  and  he  admitted  that  he  had 
eaten  nothing  since  his  dinner  the  day  before,  for 
the  crew  of  the  boat  had  not  had  their  supper 
when  the  craft  was  captured. 

"  I  don't  want  to  starve  you ;  and  you  can  take 
the  provision,  leaving  enough  for  our  breakfast." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Mars'r.  If  you  go  down 
the  river  about  half  a  mile  you  will  come  to  a 
creek,  with  a  landing-place  a  little  way  up,"  added 
Seef.     "I  will  steer  the  boat  to  it  if  you  wish." 

"No;  you  and  Jake  may  get  your  breakfast 
now,  and  I  shall  get  along  very  well  at  the 
wheel,"  replied  Deck. 

Seef  went  to  the  cabin,  and  took  from  a  locker 
a  ham  from  which  not  more  than  a  couple  of  slices 


124  ON  THE   STAFF 

had  been  cut.  It  had  been  boiled,  and  was  all 
ready  for  use.  On  the  cabin  table  he  took  off 
three  large  slices,  and  put  them  on  a  plate.  Then 
he  filled  a  dish  with  crackers,  and  placed  both  on 
a  tray,  flanking  them  with  mustard  and  pickles. 
Carrying  it  to  the  standing-room  where  the  wheel 
stood,  he  exhibited  it  to  the  lieutenant,  wishing 
to  know  if  that  was  enough  for  himself  and  the 
engineer. 

"  Plenty,  plenty,  Seef ;  more  than  we  need," 
replied  Deck,  pleased  with  the  good  will  of  the 
man,  and  almost  sorry  that  he  had  decided  to  ban- 
ish him  from  his  own  side  of  the  river.  "  Leave 
the  tray  on  the  table  in  the  cabin,  and  you  and 
Jake  can  take  your  breakfast  now." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

Seef  was  a  slave  then,  though  his  nominal  free- 
dom came  to  him  within  another  year,  under  the 
President's  Proclamation  ;  but  he  was  a  gentleman 
in  spite  of  his  condition.  When  Deck  saw  the 
man  carrying  the  ham  and  crackers  to  the  bow  to 
which  Jake  had  been  banished,  he  shouted  to  him 
that  they  might  eat  their  breakfast  in  the  cabin. 

"  Mars'r  Thornfield  don't  allow  his  niggers  to 


THE    NEW   MOON    RISES    ON    THE    HIPSY        125 

eat  in  the  cabin,"  said  Seef,  after  he  had  returned 
the  provisions  to  the  cabin,  and  called  Jake. 

"  Thornfield  is  not  in  command  here  just  now," 
replied  Deck. 

"  You  are  very  good,  Mars'r,  to  us  niggers." 

"  You  are  no  more  a  nigger  than  I  am,  Seef ; 
you  would  pass  for  a  white  man,"  protested  the 
lieutenant. 

"Nigger  all  the  same,  Mai-s'r,  though  I  passed 
for  a  white  man  in  New  Orleans,"  answered  the 
intelligent  contraband.  "  I  could  make  some  cof- 
fee for  you  and  the  engineer,  Mare'r,  if  you  wish." 

"It  would  be  the  right  thing  to  have  at  this 
time  in  the  morning." 

"  Then  I  will  make  it,"  said  Seef,  as  he  joined 
Jake  at  the  cabin-door. 

Even  before  he  ministered  to  his  hunger,  he 
brought  out  an  iron  furnace,  Avhich  he  placed  on 
the  sheet-iron  stand  by  the  side  of  the  boiler,  and 
made  a  charcoal  fire  in  it.  Then  he  placed  a  tea- 
kettle of  water  on  it,  and  went  back  to  the  cabin, 
where  he  and  his  dusky  companion  had  no  excuse 
for  not  eating  all  they  wanted.  The  good  beha- 
vior of  Seef  produced  no  little  relenting  on  the 


126  ON   THE   STAFF 

part  of  the  lieutenant  in  his  purpose  to  leave  him 
in  Tennessee ;  for  it  might  be  a  long  time  before 
he  found  an  opportunity  to  cross  the  river. 

Before  the  two  finished  their  meal,  Deck  dis- 
covered the  mouth  of  the  creek ;  but  at  about 
the  same  moment  he  saw  a  steamer,  on  the  front 
of  whose  pilot-house  he  could  just  make  out  the 
name,  "  New  Moon."  This  was  rather  an  appall- 
ing sight  to  him,  and  he  concluded  that  there 
would  be  "  music  "  off  the  town  of  Barkville  by 
breakfast-time,  or  sooner ;  and  he  was  sorry  that 
he  was  not  on  board  of  the  Harbinger,  to  take 
part  in  the  conflict,  if  there  should  be  one. 

But  the  mouth  of  the  creek  was  at  hand,  and 
the  New  Moon  could  not  follow  the  Hipsy  up  a 
small  stream.  Deck  felt  a  very  considerable  dif- 
fidence in  having  the  boat  revealed  to  the  people 
on  board  of  that  steamer ;  and  he  threw  over  the 
wheel,  and  ran  behind  the  bend,  beyond  which 
he  had  made  her  out.  A  new  moon  is  a  very 
pleasant  sight  to  see,  especially  to  those  who  like 
to  look  at  it  over  the  right  shoulder;  but  this 
particular  New  Moon  was  regarded  as  a  danger- 
ous nuisance  to  Deck  and  the  corporal,  for  she 


THE   NEW  MOON   RISES   ON  THE   HIPSY       127 

would  not  hesitate  to  capture  the  little  Hipsy, 
and  to  make  prisoners  of  both  the  white  men  on 
board  of  her.  The  colored  people  being  in  the 
cabin  could  not  see  her  yet. 

Before  she  passed  around  the  bend,  Deck  had 
hurried  the  launch  into  the  creek ;  and  fortu- 
nately there  was  a  change  in  its  direction  not 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  river.  Behind  this 
Deck  rang  the  bell  to  stop  the  engine.  As  soon 
as  he  could  find  a  good  place  he  started  her 
again,  and  ran  her  into  a  clump  of  bushes  till 
her  keel  grounded  forward. 

"  I  suppose  you  saw  that  steamer.  Lieutenant 
Lyon?"  said  Corporal  Drye,  going  aft  from  the 
engine. 

"  I  did ;  but  I  said  nothing,  for  I  did  not  care 
to  inform  that  bright  white  darky  of  her  pres- 
ence so  near  us.  They  are  practically  fighting 
on  the  other  side,  and  they  may  be  guilty  of 
some  treachery,  though  I  have  treated  Seef  like 
a  gentleman  and  a  white  man,"  replied  Deck. 
"  I  expected  that  steamer  some  time  ;  but  I  would 
rather  not  have  seen  her  at  just  this  time,  for 
she  would  be  an  ugly  customer  for  us." 


128  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  That's  a  fact,  Lieutenant.  We  are  in  an 
ugly  scrape,  and  the  next  thing  is  to  get  out  of 
it,"  said  Diye,  as  Seef  made  the  coffee  at  the 
furnace. 

Whether  they  got  out  of  it  or  not.  Deck  was 
determined  to  have  his  breakfast ;  and  he  led  the 
way  to  the  cabin. 


THE   LAUNCH   IN   A   TIGHT   PLACE  129 


CHAPTER  X 

THE   LAUNCH    IN    A   TIGHT    PLACE 

Seef  and  Jake  had  set  the  table  in  the  cabin, 
and  placed  everything  the  limited  larder  of  the 
boat  afforded,  including  a  pot  of  hot  coffee,  which 
they  were  obliged  to  take  without  milk;  though 
this  was  no  hardship  to  soldiers,  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  get  along  without  it.  Though  they 
had  taken  a  rather  late  supper,  they  were  hun- 
gry enough  to  make  a  hearty  meal. 

"  There  were  three  of  you  in  the  boat  when 
you  came  alongside  the  Harbinger  last  night," 
said  Deck  to  Seef,  who  waited  on  the  table, 
doubtless  just  as  he  had  upon  his  master  at 
other  times. 

"  Buck  can't  swim,  and  he  was  afraid  to  come 
with  us.  I  reckon  he  is  over  on  the  shore,  wait- 
ing for  the  boat  to  come  along,"  replied  Seef. 
"  He  can  huf  it  home  when  he  gets  tired  of 
waiting." 


130  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  All  right ;  we  won't  worry  about  him.  I 
didn't  know  but  he  was  drowned ;  for  I  suppose 
you  two  had  to  swim  out  to  the  launch  when 
you  took  her,"  added  Deck. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  we  swam  out  to  the  boat,  let  go 
the  fast,  and  hung  on  to  her  till  she  was  out  of 
hearing  of  the  steamer,  carried  down  the  river 
by  the  current." 

The  two  soldiers  made  a  hearty  meal ;  and  the 
boys  cleared  away  the  dishes,  and  put  the  cabin 
in  order.  Deck  and  Drye  went  aft,  and  seated 
themselves  on  the  divan  around  the  wheel.  They 
felt  like  a  couple  of  mice  caught  in  a  box-trap. 
To  go  out  into  the  river  was  to  court  capture. 
Everything  depended  upon  the  movements  of  the 
New  Moon.  If  she  discovered  that  the  Harbin- 
ger was  a  prize  to  the  military  force,  she  would 
probably  attempt  to  recapture  her,  Deck  stated. 

"  No  fellow  can  find  out  what  she  will  do," 
added  Corporal  Drye. 

"  We  are  shut  in  here,  and  we  can  see  nothing 
on  the  river,"  said  Deck.  "  If  we  leave  the 
launch,  Seef  is  smart  enough  to  run  away  with 
her." 


THE   LAUNCH   IN   A   TIGHT   PLACE  131 

"  That  is  so ;  but  why  can't  we  divide  the 
question?  " 

"What  do  you  mean  by  dividing  the  ques- 
tion ?  "  asked  the  lieutenant. 

"  One  of  us  can  go  on  shore,  get  to  the  top  of 
that  hill  at  the  bend,  and  from  there  he  can  see 
up  the  river  as  far  as  the  town,"  replied  Drye. 
"The  other  will  stay  in  the  launch,  and  a  revol- 
ver will  insure  her  safety." 

"  That's  the  idea,  Corporal !  Which  of  us 
shall  land?" 

"That  is  for  you  to  decide.  Lieutenant  Lyon," 
answered  Drye. 

"As  you  suggested  the  idea,  I  will  leave  you 
to  do  the  scouting,"  said  Deck.  "  Seef  and  Jake 
know  nothing  about  the  New  Moon ;  they  did 
not  see  her,  for  both  of  them  were  in  the  cabin. 
They  will  not  make  any  trouble  while  you  are 
gone." 

"I  don't  think  they  will.  Lieutenant.  They 
are  both  asleep  now,  Seef  in  the  cabin,  and  Jake 
in  the  bow.  You  can  see  the  hill  very  plainly 
from  here,"  said  Drye,  pointing  to  it. 

"It  is  quite    a   sightly    place,    and    I   wonder 


132  ON   THE   STAFF 

some  Tennesseean  of  taste  has  not  built  a  house 
on  it,"  suggested  Deck. 

"  I  can  see  the  town  from  it,  and  that  is  all  I 
want  of  it,"  replied  Drye.  "  1  was  going  to  say- 
that  when  I  get  on  that  hill,  you  can  see  me, 
and  I  will  make  a  signal  to  you." 

"What  for?" 

"  I  have  an  idea  that  the  New  Moon  will  see 
the  Harbinger  anchored  off  the  levee,  and  she 
will  go  on  to  Creelsboro  before  she  does  any 
business.  The  two  steamers  are  on  the  same 
mission  up  the  river,  and  one  will  not  care  to 
meddle  with  the  other.  If  I  find  the  New  Moon 
has  gone  by  the  town,  I  will  make  a  signal  to 
you  by  waving  my  handkerchief  over  ray  head ; 
and  you  can  wake  Seef,  and  run  the  launch 
down  to  a  point  near  the  river  and  pick  me  up." 

"  All  right ;  and  I  will  do  so.  But  suppose 
she  has  stopped  near  the  town  to  look  into  the 
situation?"  asked  Deck. 

"  Then,  I  will  not  make  any  signal  at  all,  but 
come  back  as  I  went,"  answered  the  corporal. 

"  All  understood,"  added  the  lieutenant. 

Drye  went  forward.     The  shore  looked  like  a 


THE   LAUNCH   IN   A   TIGHT    PLACE  133 

quagmire ;  but  the  branch  of  a  large  tree  grow- 
ing in  the  water  that  flooded  the  low  ground  at 
its  present  high  stage  of  the  river  extended  over 
the  forward  part  of  the  boat.  Taking  hold  of 
this  limb,  he  deftly  climbed  into  the  tree,  and 
made  his  way  to  the  higher  ground.  Then  he 
disappeared  in  the  grove  that  lay  beyond  it.  Deck 
permitted  the  negroes  to  sleep,  for  Seef  said 
they  had  been  up  all  night. 

The  lieutenant  had  been  listening  for  the  last 
hour,  in  the  expectation  of  hearing  the  sound  of 
guns  from  the  direction  of  Barkville  ;  but  as  none 
were  heard,  he  concluded  that  the  New  Moon 
had  gone  on  her  way  up  the  river.  Seef  had  be- 
haved so  well  that  he  had  concluded  to  land 
him  and  his  companion  on  the  Kentucky  side  of 
the  river,  and  that  the  Hipsy  should  be  more 
carefully  guarded  another  night. 

In  about  half  an  hour  after  the  departure  of 
the  corporal,  Deck  saw  him  on  the  summit  of  the 
hill.  Without  his  field-glass  he  could  see  him 
distinctly ;  for  the  morning  was  clear  and  bright, 
and  the  sun  was  half  an  hour  high.  Drye  walked 
about  for  a  few  minutes  after  he  was  seen,  evi- 


134  ON   THE   STAFF 

dently  making  his  observations  from  different 
points  of  view.  There  was  no  part  of  the  river 
within  five  miles  up  the  stream  that  the  scout 
^ould  not  see  except  at  a  bend  directly  opposite 
the  lower  end  of  the  long  hill. 

It  was  only  a  gentle  curve ;  but  the  New 
Moon  might  have  crawled  in  close  to  the  Ten- 
nessee side,  where  she  would  have  been  out  of 
sight.  This  was  the  only  point  where  the  cor- 
poral could  not  see  her ;  but  even  if  she  were 
there,  the  observer  reasoned  that  the  Hipsy  would 
have  time  to  get  out  of  the  creek,  and  run  over 
to  Marrow  Creek,  on  which  Thornfield  lived,  be- 
fore the  enemy's  steamer  could  overtake  her  ;  and 
he  made  the  signal  agreed  upon. 

The  town  was  about  a  mile  above  the  mouth 
of  the  streaiu  where  the  launch  had  taken  ref- 
uge. The  possibility  that  the  New  Moon  had 
put  in  at  the  cove  opposite  the  town  was  a  vex- 
atious problem  to  the  lieutenant,  who  had  studied 
the  contour  of  the  shores  of  the  river;  and  he 
knew  that  the  corporal  could  not  see  her  if  she 
hauled  up  there.  But  it  was  the  time  for  ac- 
tion ;    for  if   there  was   to  be   a  fight,  either  on 


THE   LAUNCH    IN    A    TIGHT    PLACE  135 

shore  or  between  the  steamers,  his  services  would 
be  needed,  there ;  and  he  went  to  the  cabin  and 
called  Seef. 

"Anything  the  matter,  INIars'r?"  asked  the 
white  negro,  springing  to  his  feet,  and  staring 
earnestly  into  the  face  of  the  officer. 

"  Nothing  the  matter,  Seef ;  but  I  think  we 
will  get  out  of  this  creek,  and  I  want  you  to  stir 
up  the  fire  in  the  furnace,  and  put  on  all  the 
steam  she  will  bear,"  replied  Deck. 

The  engineer  had  no  toilet  to  make ;  and  he 
hastened  to  the  engine  at  once,  without  pausing 
to  ask  any  questions.  There  appeared  to  be  no 
indication  of  treachery  on  the  part  of  the  con- 
traband, and  he  went  to  work  at  the  furnace  with 
as  much  zeal  as  though  he  had  been  a  free  man. 
When  he  had  cleaned  out  the  grate,  and  put 
fresh  coal  on  the  fire,  he  had  nothing  more  to 
do;  and  he  looked  about  him,  glancing  in  at  the 
door  of  the  cabin.  Then  he  went  forward,  and 
finding  Jake  alone  there,  he  did  not  disturb  him. 

"Where  is  Mars'r  Corporal,  Mars'r?"  he  in- 
quired, approaching  the  lieutenant,  who  had 
seated  himself  near  the  wheel. 


136  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  He  has  gone  on  shore,  and  I  saw  him  on  the 
top  of  that  hill  just  before  I  called  you,"  replied 
Deck.  "  He  has  gone  to  take  a  look  at  the  river, 
to  see  that  all  is  clear." 

"  The  river  is  all  there,  and  of  course  it  is  all 
clear,  Mars'r,"  said  Seef. 

"  You  don't  know ;  you  are  a  Secessionist, 
and  "  — 

"  No,  sir !  "  exclaimed  Seef,  with  more  vigor 
than  his  companion  had  before  heard  him  speak. 
"I  am  not  a  Secesher.  I  stick  by  my  mars'r 
and  the  family ;  but  I  don't  have  anything  to  do 
with  the  war,  and  I'm  no  Secesher  any  more'n 
you  be,  Mars'r." 

"  Wouldn't  you  hand  the  corporal  and  me 
over  to  the  enemy  if  you  had  the  chance?" 
asked  Deck. 

"No,  sir;  I  would  not!"  protested  the  con- 
traband warmly. 

"Not  to  save  yourself  by  getting  away  from 
us?" 

"  No,  sir !  My  mai-s'r  knows  I'm  a  Union 
man." 

"  A    Union   man  working   on   the   side    of   the 


THE   LAUNCH   IN   A   TIGHT   PLACE  137 

enemies  of  the  United  States !  "  exclaimed  Deck, 
laughing  at  the  oddity  of  the  idea. 

"I  don't  fight  on  the  Secesh  side,  Mars'r." 

"  None  of  your  people  do  any  fighting  on  either 
side  in  this  part  of  the  country.  I  said  work- 
ing on  the  side  of  the  Secessionists,  not  fighting ; 
and  that  is  about  the  same  thing.  You  ran  the 
engine  of  this  boat  for  your  master  to  go  down 
the  river  in  order  to  bring  up  a  force  to  sack 
the  town  of  Barkville,"  Deck  explained. 

"  I  couldn't  help  doing  that,  Mars'r  Lieutenant. 
I  am  a  slave,  and  I  have  to  do  what  Mars'r 
Thornfield  tells  me ;  and  he  is  very  kind  to 
me." 

"I  suppose  you  are  a  creature  of  circumstances 
just  now;  but  we  will  not  argue  that  matter. 
Then,  you  would  not  hand  me  and  the  corporal 
over  to  our  enemies  ? ' 

"No,  sir!  " 

"But  you  would  to  recover  possession  of  your 
master's  steam-launch?"  suggested  Deck. 

"  I  would  get  the  boat  if  I  could,  but  I  would 
not  fight  with  you  for  it,  Mars'r,"  replied  Seef, 
with   some   hesitation.       "  You   have  treated  me 


138  ON   THE   STAFF 

very  kindly,  Mars'r  Lieutenant,  and  though  I 
want  to  save  my  mars'r's  property,  I  wouldn't  do 
anything  to  harm  you,  sir ;  I  would  not  as  I  hope 
to  go  to  heaven  when  I  die !  " 

"  I  understand  you  now,  Seef,  and  I  know  you 
are  between  two  wheels  turning  in  opposite  di- 
rections," said  Deck  sagely.  "•  Your  affections 
make  you  cling  to  your  master,  though  you 
would  work  on  the  Union  side  if  you  could." 

"That's  it,  Mars'r;  but  we  have  plenty  of 
steam,  sir,"  said  the  engineer ;  and  he  moved  for- 
ward to  the  machine,  and  tried  the  gauge-cocks. 

"  I  may  want  to  run  her  at  her  best  speed, 
Seef,  and  you  need  all  the  steam  you  can  get," 
added  Deck,  who  had  entire  confidence  in  the 
engineer  by  this  time,  within  the  limits  he  had 
indicated. 

"She  shall  go  nine  miles  an  hour;  and  that 
is  her  best,  Mars'r." 

"  How  fast  can  the  steamers  that  come  up  the 
river  go,  Seef  ?  "  asked  Deck. 

"Some  eight  miles  an  hour,  some  twelve  or 
more,"  replied  the  engineer. 

"  Do  you  know  the  New  Moon  ?  " 


THE  LAUNCH   IN   A    TIGHT   PLACE  139 

"Yes,  Mars'r,  very  well;  and  she  makes  ten 
miles,  and  more  if  they  hurry  her." 

She  was  too  fast  for  the  Hipsy  if  she  should 
happen  to  encounter  her ;  but  Deck  went  forward, 
and  cast  off  the  line  by  which  the  boat  was 
secured,  ordering  Seef  to  back  her.  Putting  the 
helm  to  port,  she  was  backed  up  the  stream  till 
she  was  headed  for  the  river,  when  the  crank 
was  reversed,  and  she  went  ahead.  Not  a  great 
distance  down  the  creek  she  picked  up  the  cor- 
poral ;  and  then  Seef  was  instructed  to  let  her 
do  her  best.  In  a  few  minutes  she  was  in  sight 
of  the  Cumberland. 

"  Seef  seems  to  be  doing  very  well  at  the 
engine,"  said  Drye,  as  he  seated  himself  on  the 
divan. 

"  I  am  confident  that  he  will  not  go  back  on 
us,"  replied  Deck.  "  I  have  had  some  talk  with 
him;  and  though  he  means  to  stick  to  his  mas- 
ter, he  declared  that  he  would  not  give  us  up  to 
the  enemy,  even  if  he  had  a  chance,  which  lie 
has  not." 

"I  would  not  trust  him  out  of  sight,"  added 
the  corporal. 


140  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  don't  intend  to  do  so,"  said  the  lieutenant. 
"  By  the  great  horn  spoon  I  "  he  suddenly  ex- 
claimed, as  he  gave  the  wheel  a  sharp  turn, 
"  we  are  in  for  it  now !  " 

"  That's  so !  "  ejaculated  the  corporal,  as  he 
whipped  out  his  revolver  from  the  case  at  his 
belt. 

"  You  won't  need  that,"  interposed  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  There  is  a  ball  in  it  for  Seef  if  he  don't  be- 
have himself." 

"  He  will  behave  himself.  How  deep  is  the 
water  on  the  port  side,  Seef  ?  "  asked  Deck. 

"  Steep  bank,  sir ;  go  within  six  feet  of  the 
shore,"  replied  the  engineer. 

All  these  exclamations  and  movements  had 
been  called  forth  by  the  appearance  of  the  New 
Moon,  which  was  slowly  working  her  way  into 
the  creek  where  the  Hipsy  had  been  concealed. 
She  was  close  to  the  right  bank,  while  the  launch 
hugged  the  left;  and  it  was  hardly  supposable 
that  the  latter  would  be  allowed  to  pass  her 
without  a  challenge,  and  Deck  was  working  his 
wits  for  all  they  were  worth. 


AN   IMPENDING    BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      141 


CHAPTER    XI 

AN   IMPENDING   BATTLE    ON   THE    RIVER 

The  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  creek  was  quite 
wide  for  such  a  small  stream,  perhaps  two  hun- 
dred feet ;  and  the  steamer  and  the  launch  had 
plenty  of  room  to  pass  each  other  if  the  New 
Moon  did  not  object.  She  had  kept  as  close  to 
the  shore  as  the  depth  of  water  would  permit, 
and  was  going  very  slowly,  in  order  not  to  stick 
too  hard  if  she  took  the  ground. 

"  Have  you  got  all  the  steam  you  can  make, 
Seef  ? "  asked  Deck,  while  the  steamer  was  still 
three  hundred  feet  from  the  launch. 

"  Yes,  Mars'r  ;  she  is  doing  all  she  can  now," 
replied  the  engineer. 

"  Did  you  see  the  New  Moon  after  you  went 
on  the  hill.  Corporal  ?  "  the  skipper  inquired. 

"  I  did  not  see  her  at  all ;  I  don't  understand 
it,"  replied  Drye,  evidently  very  much  mortified 
to  find  that  his  journey  to  the  top  of  the  eleva- 


142  ON   THE    STAFF 

tion  amounted  to  nothing  at  all,  and  that  he  had 
given  the  signal  when  he  ought  not  to  have  done 
so.  "I  had  a  good  view  of  all  the  river  from 
the  bend  below  where  the  Harbinger  was  con- 
cealed to  a  point  above  the  town,  except  a  small 
space  right  opposite  the  village." 

"  And  that  small  space  is  plainly  the  portion 
where  she  was  lying,"  replied  the  lieutenant.  "  I 
was  thinking  with  all  my  might  about  that ;  and 
if  she  escaped  your  observation,  I  was  sure  she 
must  be  in  that  curve.  Of  course  you  are  not  in 
fault,  for  it  was  not  possible  to  see  her  under  that 
high  bank." 

"  I  could  have  seen  her  if  there  had  not  been 
another  hill  on  the  right  bank  of  this  creek." 

"Well,  here  we  are,  and  it  is  useless  to  cry 
about  it ;  we  are  in  the  scrape,  and  all  we  have 
to  do  is  to  get  out  of  it,"  added  Deck,  bringing 
all  the  philosophy  in  his  composition  to  bear  upon 
the  situation. 

"  Don't  you  think  I  had  better  take  the  engine, 
Lieutenant  Lyon  ?  "  asked  the  corporal  in  a  very 
low  tone. 

"I  don't  think  so.      Seef   knows  the  machine 


AN   IMPENDING   BATTLE  ON   THE    RIVER      143 

better  than  you  do,  and  he  is  making  the  launch 
do  her  best,"  answered  Deck.  "You  may  keep 
your  eye  upon  him;  and  if  you  see  him  doing 
anything  out  of  the  way,  tell  me  of  it.  Corporal, 
but  don't  say  anything  to  him." 

"All  right.  Lieutenant;  just  as  you  say;  " 
but  it  was  evident  that  he  had  no  confidence  in 
the  engineer,  and  believed  he  could  do  the  work 
better  himself. 

"We  will  not  talk  any  more,  but  we  must 
keep  our  eyes  wide  open.  The  New  Moon  has 
stopped  her  wheels,  and  there  is  a  crowd  of  sol- 
diers in  gray  on  her  forward  deck,"  continued 
Deck,  with  his  gaze  fixed  on  the  space  between 
the  launch  and  the  left  bank  of  the  creek,  with 
an  occasional  glance  at  the  craft  of  the  enemy. 
"  She  is  not  more  than  a  hundred  feet  from  us, 
and  the  time  for  action  has  come.  The  soldiers 
are  watching  us  with  all  their  eyes." 

On  the  forecastle  the  lieutenant  saw  two  field- 
pieces  ;  and  probably  she  and  the  Harbinger  had 
divided  a  light  battery  between  them.  Both  of 
them  were  pointed  directly  ahead ;  but  the  Hipsy 
had  passed  out  of  range  of  them  while  they  re- 


144  ON   THE   STAFF 

mained  in  their  present  position.  Of  course  they 
could  be  swung  around  so  as  to  bear  on  the 
launch  ;  but  in  a  minute  or  two  more  she  would 
be  abreast  of  the  enemy,  where  she  could  do 
nothing  with  her  guns  without  changing  her 
position. 

Seef  was  silent ;  but  he  kept  a  sharp  lookout 
at  the  New  Moon,  though  he  did  not  withdraw 
his  attention  from  the  engine.  The  machine  was 
hissing  with  the  pressure  of  steam  upon  her, 
shaking  and  rattling,  so  that  Deck  was  satisfied 
that  the  boat  was  doing  her  best. 

"Launch,  ahoy!  "  shouted  an  ofiicer  on  the 
boiler-deck  of  the  enemy. 

"  On  board  the  steamer !  "  replied  Deck,  who 
had  leapned  a  little  nautical  phraseology  from  the 
books  he  had  read. 

"What  boat  is  that?"  demanded  the  soldier. 

"The  Hipsy  of  Marrow  Creek,"  replied  the 
lieutenant  at  a  venture. 

"  Come  alongside,  and  give  an  account  of  your- 
selves !  "  shouted  the  officer. 

"  Excuse  me  ;  but  the  owner,  Mr.  Ethan  Thorn- 
field,  who  has  just  come  up  from  down  the  river, 


AN   IMPENDING   BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      145 

is  in  a  hiiriy  for  his  launch,"  replied  Deck  in  as 
loud  tones  as  he  could  muster. 

"Come  alongside,  or  we  will  fire  into  you!  " 
yelled  another  man,  who  looked  as  though  he 
might  be  the  captain  of  the  force. 

"  Can't  stop !  "  returned  Deck. 

"  Does  the  owner  of  that  launch  employ  hands 
that  wear  a  Federal  uniform  ? "  demanded  the 
military  officer  in  tones  that  were  intended  to  be 
decidedly  cutting. 

Deck  was  assured  that  it  was  useless  to  equiv- 
ocate, though  it  is  the  business  of  the  commander 
on  sea  or  land  to  deceive  the  enemy ;  and  his 
conscience  would  not  have  troubled  him  if  there 
had  been  any  chance  of  success  in  his  attempt 
to  escape  by  stratagem,  though  in  his  ordinary 
relations  with  his  fellow-beings  he  was  high- 
toned  and  entirely  truthful.  His  own  and  the 
corporal's  uniform  had  betrayed  them ;  and  strat- 
egy was  "  played  out,"  so  far  as  the  present 
adventure  was  concerned. 

Though  the  officer  on  the  New  Moon  continued 
to  shout  after  him,  he  took  no  further  notice  of 
him  in  his  individual  capacity,  especially  as   the 


146  ON  THE   STAFF 

Hipsy  had  secured  a  position  where  the  field- 
pieces  could  not  be  brought  to  bear  upon  her. 
Seef  kept  the  boat  moving  at  her  highest  speed, 
and  even  the  corporal  had  begun  to  unbend 
towards  the  bondman  who  ran  the  machine. 

"  Can  you  make  out  what  that  officer  says, 
Corporal  ?  "  asked  Deck,  when  the  boat  was  out 
of  the  reach  of  the  guns,  for  the  speaker  stood 
on  the  forecastle. 

"  He  is  threatening  to  fire  on  the  Hipsy  ;  that 
is  all  I  can  understand,"  replied  Drye.  "  But 
we  are  getting  out  of  the  way,  for  this  craft  is 
making  not  less  than  nine  miles  an  hour." 

"  That  is  what  Seef  says  she  can  do,  and  I 
am  glad  she  is  doing  it,"  returned  the  lieutenant. 
"It  looks  to  me  just  as  though  we  were  getting 
out  of  the  scrape.  I  suppose  General  Woodbine 
has  been  informed  before  this  time  that  the  New 
Moon  has  been  in  front  of  the  town." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  suggested  the  corporal. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  he  is  aware  of  her  presence 
in  these  waters.  Sentinels  have  been  posted  on 
the  Harbinger  all  night,  and  some  of  them  must 
have    seen    her,"    answered    the    lieutenant.     "  I 


AN   IMPENDING   BATTLE   ON   THE   EIVER      147 

shouldn't  wonder  if  Lieutenant  Knox  had  been 
prowling  about  the  boat  most  of  the  night,  for 
he  doesn't  leave  anything  to  chance." 

"  His  sentinel  at  the  stern  of  the  steamer  al- 
lowed these  niggers  to  take  the  launch,  anyhow," 
said  Drye  with  a  smile. 

"Seef  managed  that  business  very  well,  for 
he  and  Jake  remained  in  the  water  till  they  were 
out  of  hearing.  But  the  general  expected  the 
New  Moon,  and  doubled  the  force  of  artillery  on 
board  when  he  received  my  note  that  she  was 
coming,"  the  lieutenant  explained,  seeing  that 
for  the  present  the  Hipsy  was  in  a  safe  position. 

"  But  how  could  General  Woodbine  have  ex- 
pected her?"  inquired  the  corporal,  rather  bewil- 
dered by  the  statement  of  the  officer. 

"  Because  I  informed  him  in  a  note  I  sent  to 
him  in  the  evening." 

"How  did  you  know  it?  " 

"Lieutenant  Knox  and  I  went  into  the  cabin 
of  the  Harbinger  to  select  our  staterooms,  and 
the  steward  who  showed  us  about  told  me  she 
was  coming." 

"  That  accounts  for  it,"  added  Drye,  who  was 


148  ON   THE    STAFF 

fully  satisfied  by  tliis  time.  "  But  I  wonder  she 
does  not  come  out  and  attack  the  New  Moon ; 
and  I  have  no  doubt  she  could  make  a  full  moon 
of  her,  or  at  least  a  fooled  moon  of  her,  for  the 
Harbinger  is  very  heavily  armed,  having  six 
twelve-pounders  on  her  main  deck." 

"  The  general  knows  what  he  is  about,  and  I 
never  worry  about  what  he  is  going  to  do.  We 
are  about  a  hundred  feet  astern  of  the  Moon  now ; 
and  if  we  don't  run  against  a  fixed  star,  we 
shall  soon  be  out  of  her  reach,"  said  Deck. 

He  had  hardly  uttered  his  hopeful  words  before 
a  musket  was  discharged  from  the  stern  of  the 
steamer,  and  the  bullet  whizzed  through  the  air 
just  above  the  skipper's  head.  This  was  not 
expected,  though  it  was  a  wonder  to  him  when 
he  thought  of  it  that  the  soldiers  had  not  opened 
fire  upon  the  launch  from  the  forecastle ;  but 
he  concluded  that  the  enemy  were  in  doubt  as 
to  the  character  of  the  boat  until  the  officer 
had  discovered  their  blue  uniforms. 

By  this  time  the»Hipsy  had  got  so  far  down 
into  the  wide  mouth  of  the  creek  that  those  on 
board  of  her  could  see  the  front  of  the  town  and 


AN   IMPENDING   BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      149 

the  Harbinger.  But  a  second  shot  from  the 
New  Moon  reminded  Deck  that  they  had  no  time 
to  look'  about  them  ;  and  the  bullet  struck  the 
side  of  the  cabin,  and  shattered  a  board  in  the 
casing,  rousing  Jake  from  his  deep  slumber. 

"  Gorra  mighty !  "  yelled  the  contraband  as 
he  rushed  out  into  the  waist.  "  I  done  get 
killed  !  " 

"  No,  you  didn't !  Lie  down  !  "  shouted  the 
lieutenant.  "  Keep  behind  the  boiler,  Seef  !  Lie 
down,  Corporal !  It's  no  use  to  be  shot  for  noth- 
ing. Those  fellows  shoot  wildly,  but  a  chance 
shot  may  knock  one  of  us  over." 

"  Let  me  take  the  wheel.  Lieutenant,"  sug- 
gested Drye.  "My  life  is  not  worth  so  much 
as  yours." 

"  It  is  worth  as  much  to  you  as  mine  is  to  me," 
replied  Deck,  as  he  dropped  down  on  the  floor 
of  the  standing-room,  where  he  could  not  be  seen 
from  the  steamer. 

"  I  will  stay  behind  the  boiler  with  Seef," 
added  the  corporal ;  and  he  joined  the  engineer 
at  his  post. 

"I  can't   see    to  steer  in   this   position,"  said 


150  ON   THE   STAFF 

Deck  from  his  humble  posture.  "-You  can  see 
ahead,  Corporal,  where  you  are,  and  you  must 
direct  me." 

"All  right,  Lieutenant." 

The  infantry  on  board  of  the  New  Moon  con- 
tinued to  fire  in  single  shots  ;  but  the  officers 
could  not  help  seeing  that  the  men  were  doing 
no  execution.  Deck  had  lain  down  flat  on  his 
back  in  the  standing-room,  with  the  back  of  his 
head  against  the  after  stanchion  in  which  the 
wheel  was  set,  reaching  up  with  both  arms  to 
the  spokes.  In  fact,  he  had  nearly  reversed  the 
position  he  had  occupied  before.  Possibly  the 
enemy  in  the  stern  of  the  steamer  could  see 
the  wheel ;  but  they  could  not  see  him,  though 
his  arms  were  exposed. 

Over  the  stern  of  the  launch  the  helmsman 
could  see  the  two  tall  smoke-stacks  of  the  New- 
Moon,  while  the  fire  of  the  infantry  still  con- 
tinued, and  several  balls  had  struck  the  cabin 
and  sides  of  the  boat. 

"  You  are  heading  her  down  the  river.  Lieu- 
tenant," called  the  corporal. 

"  That's  right,"  replied  the  skipper. 


AN   IMPENDING   BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      151 

"  Aren't  you  going  over  to  the  front  of  the 
town  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  am  going  up  Marrow  Creek,  for  the 
Moon  cannot  shine  on  us  for  any  great  distance 
up  that  stream,"  answered  the  lieutenant.  "I 
made  up  my  mind  before  we  saw  the  steamer 
in  the  creek  to  land  Seef  and  Jake  near  their 
home." 

"All  right.  Lieutenant;  you  give  orders,  and 
I  obey  them,"  replied  the  corporal,  though  he 
looked  as  though  he  was  disgusted  with  the 
course  of  his  superior  officer. 

"Thank  you,  Mars'r,  very  much,"  said  Seef, 
with  a  grateful  smile  on  his  face. 

"  Great  Csesar  and  Alexander  the  Great !  " 
suddenly  exclaimed  Deck,  as  he  looked  over  the 
stern  of  the  launch,  and  saw  the  lofty  smoke- 
stacks of  the  New  Moon  swinging  out  into  the 
creek ;  and,  hearing  the  splash  of  one  of  her 
paddle-wheels,  he  concluded  that  it  was  that  on 
the  port  side,  next  to  the  bank,  for  the  starboard 
one  was  not  in  motion.  "  The  steamer  is  coming 
about ;  and  that  means  that  she  is  going  to  chase 
us!  " 


162  ON   THE   STAFF 

It  also  meant  that  she  was  bringing  her  two 
field-pieces  into  a  position  where  they  would 
cover  the  launch.  Drye  and  Seef  both  turned 
their  attention  to  the  steamer,  and  fully  realized 
what  the  helmsman  had  announced.  Just  then 
the  lieutenant  uttered  a  suppressed  groan;  for 
the  men  in  the  stern  of  the  New  Moon  were  still 
in  position  to  use  their  muskets,  and  a  bullet 
had  struck  the  left  arm  of  Deck  between  the 
elbow  and  the  wrist.  But  he  did  not  let  go 
the  wheel ;  though  he  had  to  use  his  right  hand 
only,  for  the  other  was  numb,  and  the  strength 
had  gone  out  of  it. 

"  I  am  hit.  Corporal ;  but  stay  where  you 
are,"  said  the  helmsman,  though  tlie  pain  of  the 
wound  began  to  make  itself  felt. 

"  Let  me  take  the  wheel.  Lieutenant  Lyon." 

"  No  ;  watch  the  enemy,  for  I  cannot  see  her 
where  I  am.  Can  you  see  the  Harbinger  ? " 
asked  Deck. 

"  I  can ;  and  I  have  just  made  out  that  she 
has  moved  up  to  the  landing-place,  and  the  smoke 
is  pouring  in  a  big  volume  out  of  her  smoke- 
stacks,"  answered    Drye.     "We    are    more    than 


"'I  am  hit,  Corporal;  but  stay  where  you  are.'" 

Puyc  152. 


AN   IMPENDING    BATTLE   ON   THE   KIVER      153 

three  hundred  feet  ahead  of  the  enemy,  and  we 

shall  soon  get  into  the  creek.     Does  your  wound 

pain  you,  Lieutenant  ?  " 

"Somewhat;   but  I  can  stand  it." 

"  The  Harbinger  is  backing  out  from  the  levee, 

and  I  am  sure  now  that  she  has  got  an  idea  of 

the  situation  !  "  shouted  the   corporal  in  a  loud 

and  excited  tone. 

In  a  few  minutes  more  she   had  come  about, 

and  headed  for  the  New  Moon. 


154  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XII 

CANNON-BALLS   FLYING    IN   THE    ALB 

The  New  Moon  was  now  headed  directly  for 
the  Hipsy,  and  as  soon  as  she  had  come  about, 
the  soldiers  on  the  forecastle  resumed  firing  with 
their  muskets ;  but  she  had  taken  some  time  in 
turning,  for  her  port  wheel  appeared  to  work 
badly,  and  perhaps  she  had  not  water  enough  on 
the  shelving  bottom  of  the  creek  to  permit  it  to 
work  freely.  This  delay  had  enabled  the  launch 
to  gain  another  hundred  feet  or  so ;  and  it  was 
only  occasionally  that  a  bullet  reached  her,  for 
doubtless  the  soldiers  on  board  were  armed  with 
old  flint-lock  weapons. 

The  Harbinger  had  apparently  expected  to  be 
attacked  where  she  lay  in  the  stream,  if  at  all ;  for 
she  had  been  very  slow  in  getting  up  steam.  She 
burned  wood,  and  she  could  not  bank  her  fires 
as  steamers  using  coal  did.  She  moved  very 
leisurely    when    she    had    come    about,    though 


CANNON-BALLS   FLYING   IN   THE   AIR        155 

her  smoke-stacks  poured  out  a  heavy  volume  of 
smoke,  indicating  that  her  furnaces  were  well 
supplied  with  fuel,  and  the  effect  would  very- 
soon  be  apparent. 

"  I  suppose  our  men  have  been  watching  the 
New  Moon  ever  since  she  first  appeared  this 
morning,"  said  Corporal  Drye  from  his  position, 
which  he  had  changed  from  the  side  to  the  front 
of  the  boiler;  "but  I  wonder  they  did  not  get 
up  steam  early  in  the  morning." 

"Captain  Batterson  is  now  the  ranking-officer 
on  board,  but  General  Woodbine  sent  an  order 
for  Lieutenant  Knox  to  retain  the  command  of 
the  steamer,"  replied  Deck,  still  in  his  awkward 
position  on  the  floor  of  the  standing-room. 

With  his  wounded  arm,  it  was  very  difficult  for 
him  to  steer  the  boat,  for  he  could  use  only  his 
right  arm.  His  white  companion  had  been  an 
engineer  on  a  steamer  on  the  Green  River,  and 
he  had  had  plenty  of  experience  on  such  vessels, 
though  not  in  the  pilot-house  ;  but  Deck  Lyon 
had  been  obliged  to  learn  how  to  handle  the 
little  wheel  of  the  Hipsy  after  he  took  hold  of 
it,  for  he  had  steered  a  boat  only  with  a  tiller. 


156  ON  THE   STAFF 

He  was  something  of  a  philosopher,  and  readily 
understood  a  machine  of  any  kind  when  he  was 
called  upon  to  use  it. 

"  Corporal,  I  think  I  must  change  places  with 
you,  for  I  find  it  very  difficult  to  steer  with  one 
arm  in  this  uncomfortable  position,"  said  Deck. 

"  All  right.  Lieutenant ;  I  shall  be  glad  to 
take  your  place,"  answered  Drye. 

"Don't  show  yourself;  for  they  are  still  firing 
at  us,  and  I  hope  you  won't  get  hit,"  added 
Deck.  "Lie  down  on  the  floor,  and  crawl  over 
here." 

The  corporal  did  as  he  was  directed,  and  with 
some  difficulty  they  exchanged  places  without  per- 
mitting the  launch  to  fall  off  her  course.  Deck 
crav/led  to  the  boiler,  and  stood  up  in  front  of  it. 
Seef  looked  at  him  with  interest,  and  his  expres- 
sion indicated  that  he  sympathized  with  him  on 
account  of  the  pain  he  was  enduring. 

"You  look  pale,  Mars'r,"  said  he. 

"I  think  I  have  lost  considerable  blood,"  re- 
plied the  sufferer;  "and  I  suppose  that  would 
make  me  a  bit  chalky  in  the  face,  and  I  feel  a 
little  weak." 


CANNON-BALLS    FLYING    IN   THE   AIR        157 

"  Sit  down  on  my  stool,  Mars'r,"  said  the  engi- 
neer, placing  it  behind  the  engine,  which  was  still 
shaking  and  rattling  under  the  pressure  upon  it. 

"Thank  you,  Seef,"  answered  Deck,  as  he 
seated  himself  near  the  machine,  and  looked  about 
him  to  get  a  better  idea  of  the  situation  than 
he  had  been  able  to  obtain  when  on  the  floor 
under  the  wheel. 

The  Hipsy  appeared  to  be  absolutely  gaining 
on  her  pursuer,  but  the  smoke  from  her  funnels 
proved  that  her  firemen  had  stuffed  the  furnaces 
with  wood. 

"She  can  steam  faster  than  the  Hipsy,"  said 
the  engineer ;  "  and  she  will  soon  gain  what  she 
has  lost  again." 

It  was  not  a  comforting  remark  from  one  who 
understood  his  machine,  and  it  did  not  afford  the 
lieutenant  any  consolation.  He  continued  his 
study  of  the  situation,  and  saw  that  the  Harbin- 
ger was  increasing  her  speed  every  moment. 
Beckland  was  at  one  of  the  engines,  and  he  had 
no  doubt  some  one  among  the  cavalrymen  or 
artillerists  had  been  found  to  take  Drye's  place 
at  the  other.     He  obtained  a  good  view  of   the 


158  ON   THE   STAFF 

bow  of   the  New  Moon,  and  saw  that  they  were 
placing  the  two  field-pieces  in  position  for  use. 

Deck  felt  rather  shaky  when  he  discovered 
these  preparations,  for  a  cannon-ball  from  a  twelve- 
pounder  might  wreck  the  launch.  His  hope  was 
that  the  enemy's  artillerists  were  not  skilful  and 
experienced  in  the  use  of  the  pieces. 

"  Can't  I  do  something  for  your  wound,  Mars'r 
Lyon  ?  "  asked  Seef,  who  did  not  seem  to  be  at 
all  terrified  by  the  prospect  of  a  cannon-ball 
crashing  through  the  sides  of  the  Hipsy.  "  Let 
me  make  some  lint,  and  tie  your  handkerchief 
around  your  arm." 

"  Thank  you,  Seef ;  I  will  in  a  few  minutes," 
answered  Deck,  still  looking,  or  "  peeking "  as 
little  children  say,  around  the  boiler. 

He  had  scarcely  spoken  before  the  boom  of  one 
of  the  field-pieces  reverberated  among  the  hills 
astern  of  the  enemy's  steamer. 

"  There  you  are !  "  exclaimed  the  corporal. 
"But  we  are  not  hit." 

"  No ;  not  by  a  long  chalk,"  replied  Deck, 
revived  and  somewhat  excited  by  the  prospect 
of  a  little  sharp  work.     "  The  ball  did  not  come 


CANNON-BALLS   FLYING   IN   THE   AIE        159 

within  two  rods  of  the  launch,  and  was  liigh 
enough  to  have  gone  over  our  smoke-stack.  I 
doubt  if  they  have  any  good  gunners  on  board 
of  the  New  Moon." 

"So  much  the  better,"  replied  the  corporal. 

The  shot  was  followed  a  minute  later  by 
another;  but  it  was  no  better  aimed  than  the 
first,  for  it  passed  a  long  way  overhead,  though 
its  whizzing  noise  was  distinctly  heard.  Jake, 
who  had  hid  himself  on  the  floor  of  the  cabin, 
rushed  out  into  the  waist,  screaming  with  terror. 

"  Gorra  mighty !  "  he  yelled.  "  We  all  git 
killed !  " 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  you  fool !  "  said  Seef. 

But  Jake  was  terrified  out  of  his  wits,  and 
incapable  of  uttering  an  intelligible  sentence  be- 
yond his  wild  exclamations. 

"  Get  back  into  the  cabin,  and  lie  down  on  the 
floor,  or  you  will  get  hit  where  you  are  !  "  shouted 
the  engineer  at  him ;  and  he  retreated  to  his 
former  lair,  crawling  under  the  transom  on  which 
the  bed  was  made. 

"  There's  another !  "  exclaimed  the  corporal ; 
"  but  we  are  not  hit  yet." 


160  ON    THE    STAFF 

"  That  gun  did  not  come  from  the  New  Moon, 
but  from  the  Harbinger ;  and  it  fell  short  of  the 
mark,  for  the  distance  is  nearly  if  not  quite  a 
mile.  She  is  flying  the  American  flag  above  her 
hurricane  deck,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  she 
means  business,"  said  Deck,  speaking  for  the 
benefit  of  the  helmsman,  who  could  see  nothing 
but  the  smoke-stacks  of  the  enemy's  craft. 

"  If  the  Moon  doesn't  fire  any  better  than  she 
has  done  so  far,  we  are  in  no  great  danger,"  added 
Drye. 

"  The  Harbinger  is  getting  her  speed  on,  and 
she  will  soon  do  the  Moon  some  damage,"  said 
Deck. 

"Can  you  see  her  plainly,  Lieutenant?  "  asked 
the  corporal. 

"  I  can  see  her  plainly  enough,  but  I  cannot 
make  out  what  is  going  on  upon  her  main  deck 
where  the  guns  are,"  answered  the  lieutenant. 
"I  will  use  my  glass,  and  let  you  know." 

The  helmsman  appeared  to  be  considerably 
excited,  more  so  than  his  officer ;  though  neither 
of  them  could  help  being  stirred  up  by  the  trian- 
gular contest  in  the  matter  of   speed,  and  espe- 


CANNON-BALLS   FLYING   IN   THE   AIR        161 

cially  at  the  prospect  of  the  events  of  the  next  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes.  The  Harbinger  was  headed 
directly  for  the  New  Moon,  which  still  kept  on 
her  course  in  pursuit  of  the  Hipsy.  Deck  brought 
his  field-glass  to  bear  on  the  Harbinger ;  for  he 
always  carried  it,  as  well  as  his  sabre  and  revol- 
ver, suspended  by  a  strap  passing  over  his 
shoulder. 

"  I  make  out  four  of  the  twelve-pounders 
ranged  across  her  forecastle,  with  the  gunners 
standing  by  them,"  reported  the  lieutenant.  "  Of 
course  they  are  all  loaded,  and  she  will  knock  off 
the  horns  of  the  New  Moon  as  soon  as  she  gets 
a  fair  chance  at  her." 

"  Good  for  the  Harbinger !  "  exclaimed  the 
corporal. 

Another  shot  came  from  each  of  the  guns  of 
the  enemy's  steamer ;  and  this  time  the  shot  from 
one  of  them  struck  the  top  of  the  cabin,  and 
scattered  a  shower  of  pine  splinters  inside  and  on 
the  floor  outside. 

••'  Gorra  mighty !  "  yelled  Jake,  rushing  out 
into  the  waist  again. 

"  Go    back,    you   fool !     You    are    not    hit   or 


162  ON   THE   STAFF 

hurt!  "  shouted  the  engineer,  who  did  not  seem 
to  be  much  disturbed  by  the  flying  woodwork. 

"  I'll  be  killed,  Seef !  "  groaned  the  poor  fellow, 
who  had  perhaps  never  heard  the  report  of  a 
cannon  before,  and  certainly  had  never  had  one 
strike  so  near  him. 

The  New  Moon  held  her  course  for  the  mouth 
of  Marrow  Creek,  while  the  Harbinger  was  keep- 
ing abreast  of  the  Kentucky  shore  as  near  as  it 
was  prudent  to  go  in  the  absence  of  a  skilled 
pilot.  In  other  words,  the  Union  craft  for  the 
time  being  was  approaching  the  enemy  at  an 
angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees,  so  that  the  fire 
of  her  guns  would  partially  rake  the  decks  of  the 
Moon. 

Seef  had  shovelled  the  coal  into  the  furnace, 
and  the  Hipsy  had  not  for  a  moment  abated  her 
best  speed.  The  situation  began  to  look  very 
hopeful  to  the  fugitives,  for  she  was  now  within 
three  hundred  feet  of  the  mouth  of  the  creek. 
As  soon  as  she  entered  it,  a  bend  in  the  stream 
would  afford  them  shelter  from  the  shots  of  both 
infantry  and  artillery. 

But  the  New  Moon  still  kept  on  her  course, 


CANNON-BALLS   FLYING   IN   THE   AIR        163 

a  circumstance  which  perplexed  the  corporal  as 
he  saw  her  funnels  over  the  tafferel  of  the 
boat. 

"I  can't  understand  what  the  Moon  is  about," 
said  he.  "Why  don't  she  come  about,  and  get 
out  of  the  way  by  running  down  the  river?  If 
you  can  see  the  four  field-pieces  on  the  fore- 
castle of  the  Harbinger,  of  course  the  enemy's 
officers  can  see  them." 

"I  don't  know  what  she  is  driving  at,  unless 
she  means  to  run  up  Marrow  Creek,  and  keep 
out  of  the  way  in  that  manner,"  suggested  the 
lieutenant. 

"  That's  it,  Mars'r  Lyon.  The  Harbinger 
draws  two  feet  more  water  than  the  New  Moon, 
and  the  Moon  can  go  a  mile  farther  up  the 
creek  than  the  other.  There  goes  the  Union 
guns,  Mars'r !  "  exclaimed  Seef . 

One  shot  followed  another  till  four  had  been 
sent  into  the  enemy ;  and  they  hit  her  this 
time,  every  one  of  them,  for  Deck  could  see  the 
wreck  of  the  boards  as  they  were  shattered,  and 
flew  in  every  direction.  But  she  evidently  had 
a  worse  hit  than  those  that  merely  splintered  her 


164  ON   THE   STAFF 

paddle-boxes;  for  she  suddenly  began  to  come 
about,  and  to  whirl  till  she  was  headed  in  the 
direction  from  which  she  had  just  come.  Deck 
explained  the  effect  of  the  shots  to  the  corporal. 

"  Which  way  did  she  come  about,  Lieuten- 
ant?" asked  Drye. 

"She  turned  to  the  right,  to  the  starboard," 
replied  Deck. 

"  Then  her  port  engine  was  disabled." 

"So  I  should  say.  But  you  need  not  crouch 
down  under  the  wheel  any  longer.  Corporal.  The 
New  Moon  has  set  for  the  present,  and  she  can't 
follow  us  any  farther  just  now.  She  has  stopped 
her  starboard  engine,"  said  the  lieutenant.  "I 
think  we  are  out  of  all  danger  now." 

Seef  blew  off  some  of  the  steam  that  was 
crowding  the  boiler,  as  it  was  no  longer  neces- 
sary to  hurry  the  launch,  for  the  New  Moon  had 
found  a  foe  worthy  of  all  her  attention.  But  the 
Confederate  flag  was  still  flying  over  her  hurri- 
cane deck.  She  lay  helpless  on  the  current  of 
the  river,  which  was  carrying  her  down  stream; 
and  she  was  likely  to  be  hurled  against  the  Ken- 
tucky shore    at   the  bend  of   the  stream  behind 


CANNON-BALLS   FLYING   IN  THE  AIR        165 

which  the  Harbinger  had  concealed  herself  the 
day  before. 

Seef  had  found  a  white  rag  in  the  cabin ;  and 
he  was  scraping  lint  while  he  observed  the  es- 
caping steam,  though  he  soon  closed  the  safety- 
valve,  and  opened  the  furnace  door.  The  cor- 
poral had  resumed  his  perpendicular  attitude,  and 
was  steering  the  launch  as  before,  though  he  kept 
one  eye  fixed  on  the  Harbinger  and  the  foe  all 
the  time.  The  Hipsy  entered  the  creek,  and  the 
engineer  indicated  a  good  landing-place  not  far 
from  the  mouth.  He  had  scraped  lint  enough 
for  his  purpose  by  the  time  the  boat  came  to  the 
shore,  and  was  made  fast  to  a  tree  by  Jake,  who 
had  come  to  his  senses  again. 

The  corporal  examined  the  wound  of  the  lieu- 
tenant as  Seef  removed  the  clothing.  The  ball 
had  passed  diagonally  through  the  arm,  just  be- 
low the  elbow,  it  was  found ;  and  the  wound  had 
bled  profusely.  Drye  had  some  skill  in  surgery ; 
and,  with  the  sticking-plaster  Deck  always  carried, 
he  dressed  the  injury,  bandaging  it  quite  skil- 
fully. The  patient  declared  that  the  arm  felt 
more  comfortable  as  soon  as  it  was  bound  up, 
and  placed  in  a  sling. 


166  ON   THE   STAFF 

"Now,  Seef,  I  suppose  you  know  where  you 
are,  and  you  may  huf  it  home  from  here,"  said 
Deck  to  the  engineer. 

"I  hoped  you  would  give  me  back  the  launch, 
Mars'r,"  added  Seef  with  a  winning  smile. 

"I  would  if  I  could;  but  I  cannot  return  the 
Hipsy  to  your  master,  for  he  would  use  it,  as  he 
did  before,  against  the  Union  forces.  Good-by, 
Seef.  You  have  behaved  like  a  Union  man,"  re- 
plied Deck,  shaking  hands  with  him,  the  corporal 
following  his  example,  and  granting  that  he  had 
misjudged  the  engineer. 

The  two  bondmen  disappeared  in  the  woods 
just  as  another  volley  of  cannon-shot  awoke  the 
echoes  in  the  hills.  Drye  went  to  the  engine. 
Deck  took  the  wheel,  and  the  boat  ran  for  the 
river. 


THE   STEAMER   BATTLE   ON   THE  EIVEE,      167 


CHAPTER   XIII 

THE    STEAMER    BATTLE    ON  THE   RIVER 

Lleutenant  Lyon  found  it  more  difficult  to 
steer  with  one  hand  at  the  wheel  than  with  two  ; 
but  compared  with  his  position  when  lying  on 
his  back,  it  was  vastly  more  agreeable.  Besides, 
he  was  not  wounded  in  the  stomach,  in  which 
the  vacuum  reminded  him  that  it  was  breakfast- 
time. 

"  Mars'r  Lyon !  "  called  Seef,  emerging  from 
the  woods,  and  running  with  all  his  might  to 
the  creek. 

"What's  the  matter  now?"  demanded  Deck, 
as  the  corporal  stopped  the  engine  at  a  word 
from  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  left  some  of  my  clothes  in  a  locker  in  the 
boat.  Won't  you  let  me  have  them  ? "  asked 
the  engineer. 

"  Yes,  Seef ;  you  can  have  anything  that  be- 
longs to  you,   but  nothing  that   belongs    to   the 


168  ON   THE   STAFF 

launch,"  rsplied  Deck.  "Back  her  up  to  the 
shore,  Corporal." 

Drye  ran  the  boat  back  till  she  was  alongside 
the  bank  of  the  stream. 

"  Perhaps  mars'r  will  let  us  have  a  bite  to 
eat  for  breakfast  before  we  go,  for  we  have  to 
walk  seven  miles  before  we  can  get  anything 
at  all.  We  had  no  time  for  a  meal  before,"  said 
Seef,  as  he  leaped  into  the  launch  followed  by 
Jake. 

"We  all  want  some  breakfast;  and  you  may 
get  some  for  us,  and  have  all  you  want  your- 
selves," replied  the  lieutenant. 

"  Then,  I  will  make  some  coffee,  Mars'r,"  said 
Seef,  as  he  told  Jake  to  get  out  the  furnace, 
and  make  a  fire  in  it. 

"  While  you  are  getting  ready  for  breakfast, 
we  will  run  down  the  creek,  and  see  what  the 
steamers  are  doing ;  but  we  will  land  you  on 
the  stseam  so  that  you  can  go  home,"  added  the 
lieutenant. 

"Thank  you,  Mars'r;  all  right,"  replied  the 
engineer.     "  Now,  go  ahead,  Corporal." 

"  They   don't    seem    to    be    firing    now,"    said 


THE   STEAMER   BATTLE   ON   THE  EIVER      169 

Drye.  "  Those  last  shots  were  a  broadside  from 
the  Harbinger,  I  suppose ;  for  the  New  Moon 
could  not  fire  more  than  two  guns  so  near  to- 
gether. The  enemy  may  be  able  to  fix  up  the 
port  engine  of  their  boat;  if  they  don't,  the  other 
will  knock  her  all  to  pieces." 

"Do  you  suppose  they  will  be  able  to  repair 
the  damage  to  the  engine  ? "  asked  Deck. 

"Of  course  I  don't  know  what  damage  has 
been  done  to  it ;  but  it  may  be  only  a  slight 
injury,  which  the  engineer  can  put  to  rights  in 
a  short  time.  If  they  can't  mend  the  machine, 
she  is  in  a  bad  fix,"  replied  the  corporal. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  Hipsy  reached  a  point 
where  they  could  see  both  steamers.  The  New 
Moon  lay  just  as  she  was  when  her  engineer 
stopped  the  starboard  wheel;  and  the  Harbinger 
had  stopped  her  wheels  at  a  distance  of  about 
three  hundred  feet,  but  was  still  making  an  occa- 
sional turn  with  them  to  avoid  being  carried  any 
farther  down  the  river  by  the  current.  Neither 
boat  was  firing  her  cannon  or  muskets  at  the 
other.     Each  of  them  was  still  floating  its  flag. 

"  They  seem  to  be  taking  it  easy  just  now," 


170  ON    THE   STAFF 

said  Drye,  after  he  had  observed  the  beUigerents 
for  a  few  minutes.  "  I  should  think  the  Har- 
binger would  pour  the  shot  into  her  while  she 
has  such  a  good  chance  at  her." 

"I  suppose  Captain  Batterson  is  in  command 
now,  at  least  of  the  artillery ;  and  he  under- 
stands his  business  well  enough,"  answered  Deck. 
"  There  goes  the  Moon  again,  and  her  soldiers 
have  not  gone  to  sleep  yet." 

This  remark  was  called  forth  by  a  volley  of 
musketry  from  the  enemy ;  for  the  steamer  had 
whirled  about  so  far  while  the  port  wheel  was 
not  working,  that  the  field-pieces  could  not  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  Harbinger.  But  the 
volley  did  not  appear  to  have  any  effect  upon 
her.  Perhaps  Captain  Batterson  had  been  wait- 
ing for  the  enemy  to  haul  down  the  Confederate 
flag,  which  still  waved  defiance  above  the  hurri- 
cane deck ;  for  the  volley  from  the  muskets  was 
immediately  followed  by  the  rapid  discharge  of 
the  four  pieces  on  the  forecastle  of  the  Union 
craft,  as  she  had  now  become. 

The  shot  crashed  into  the  main  deck,  and  ap- 
peared  to   have  been   aimed  at  the   part  of  the 


THE   STEAMER   BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      171 

boat  where  the  engines  were  located.  What 
damage  had  been  done  to  her  beyond  the  tear- 
ing off  of  the  pine  boards  about  her  port  paddle- 
box  could  not  be  seen  by  the  observers.  But  as 
the  main  deck  was  crowded  with  men,  some  of 
them  must  have  been  killed  and  wounded.  The 
two  broadsides,  if  the  cannon  volley  was  entitled 
to  this  designation,  brought  about  a  change  in 
the  disposition  of  the  force  on  board  of  her; 
for  with  the  aid  of  his  glass  Deck  could  see  that 
the  soldiers  were  hurrying  to  the  saloon  deck. 
Outside  of  the  cabin  on  a  Western  steamer  is 
a  gallery;  and  from  each  stateroom  a  door  leads 
out  to  this  balcony,  and  another  into  the  saloon. 

"  That's  a  wise  move,"  the  lieutenant  remarked 
as  soon  as  he  comprehended  it. 

"  What  is,  Lieutenant  Lyon  ?  "  asked  the  cor- 
poral. 

"  All  the  infantry  on  the  Moon  has  been  sent 
to  the  saloon  deck,"  replied  Deck.  "  The  sol- 
diers are  taking  possession  of  the  staterooms, 
where  they  cannot  be  readily  seen,  and  they  will 
open  fire  with  their  muskets  upon  the  Harbinger 
very  soon;    though  they  might  as  well  save  their 


172  ON   THE   STAFF 

powder  and  ball  as  waste  them  in  their  old  flint- 
locks. They  are  opening  all  the  gallery  doors, 
and  the  men  intend  to  stand  in  the  staterooms 
and  fire  from  the  outer  doors  ;  but  I  don't  believe 
they  can  do  much  mischief  at  their  present  dis- 
tance from  our  men." 

"  Breakfast  is  ready,  Mars'r  Lyon  and  Mars'r 
Corporal,"  called  Seef  from  the  cabin. 

The  launch  had  been  made  fast  to  a  tree ;  and 
both  of  them  hastened  forward  to  the  meal,  in 
order  to  be  ready  for  the  exciting  events  which 
were  yet  to  come.  Seef  had  ham  and  eggs  for 
breakfast,  and  it  was  a  very  acceptable  meal,  with 
the  excellent  coffee ;  and  the  two  white  men  could 
not  have  satisfied  their  appetites  any  better  at 
Delmonico's.  They  could  hear  the  reports  of  the 
muskets  fired  by  the  enemy  at  will ;  but  they 
had  the  feeling  that  the  Union  men  were  not 
suffering  much,  if  at  all,  from  the  fire ;  and  they 
finished  their  meal  with  hearty  relish  in  spite  of 
the  musketry. 

Both  of  them  went  to  the  standing-room,  for 
the  current  of  the  creek  had  swung  the  boat 
around  so  that  this  was  the  most  desirable  part  of 


THE   STEAMER   BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      173 

it  to  enable  them  to  see  the  action.  They  had 
hardly  seated  themselves  in  the  stern  before 
another  cannon-peal  was  heard,  followed  by  three 
more ;  and  the  observers  saw  the  gallery  rail  and 
the  doors  of  the  staterooms,  as  well  as  the  sides 
of  the  cabin,  flying  in  every  direction.  Captain 
Batterson  had  changed  his  tactics,  and  was  now 
firing  into  the  upper  works  of  the  New  Moon,  in 
order  to  meet  the  change  the  enemy  had  made  in 
the  stationing  of  their  men. 

But  the  Confederates  were  still  "game;"  for 
the  musketry  appeared  to  rattle  from  every  part 
of  the  gallery,  and  the  men  had  come  out  of  the 
rooms,  and  stood  in  plain  sight  when  they  fired, 
taking  advantage  of  the  moment  when  the  artiller- 
ists were  loading  their  pieces  again.  They  did 
not  remain  long  in  this  exposed  position ;  and  it 
was  well  for  them  that  they  did  not,  for  another 
discharge  of  the  four  guns  followed  the  last  in  a 
very  short  time. 

"  The  Moon  is  swinging  around,  and  they  must 
have  repaired  the  port  engine  !  "  exclaimed  the 
corporal. 

"  In  that  case  this  affair  will  soon  be  over :   and 


174  ON   THE   STAFF 

it  will  be  hot  work,  for  the  enemy  are  as  full  of 
pluck  as  gamecoclvs,"  added  Deck,  though  he  had 
never  even  seen  one  of  the  birds  he  mentioned. 

The  eyes  of  both  were  directed  to  the  New 
Moon  with  the  most  intense  interest ;  for  it  was 
evident  to  them  that  the  action  must  soon  cul- 
minate in  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  vessel, 
though  her  two  guns  might  disable  one  or  both 
of  the  Harbinger's  engines.  Neither  of  the 
craft  was  suitable  for  fighting-boats,  for  their 
machinery  was  all  exposed.  Commodore  Foote's 
steamers  on  the  Mississippi,  and  up  the  Cum- 
berland and  Tennessee,  were  ironclads ;  and  their 
machinery  was  protected,  though  some  of  them 
had  their  boilers  and  engines  rent  by  shot  at  a 
later  date. 

As  soon  as  she  recovered  the  use  of  her  port 
wheel,  the  New  Moon  advanced  boldly  into  the 
teeth  of  the  Harbinger,  discharging  her  two  field- 
pieces  with  considerable  rapidity.  But  she  was 
coming  into  close  quarters  under  very  great  dis- 
advantage, for  the  Union  craft  carried  six  guns 
to  her  four.  But  the  military  commander  of  the 
enemy  appeared,  as  Deck  interpreted  the  present 


THE   STEAMER   BATTLE   ON   THE   EIVER      175 

situation,  to  be  satisfied  that  he  had  many  more 
men  than  his  foe,  and  intended  to  hurl  them  on 
the  main  deck  of  the  Harbinger,  or,  nautically 
speaking,  board  her. 

The  lieutenant  directed  his  glass  at  the  Union 
boat,  and  saw  that  some  kind  of  a  movement 
was  in  progress  there,  though  he  could  not 
make  it  out;  but  it  soon  developed  itself.  The 
forward  deck  of  a  Western  steamer  is  not  usu- 
ally surrounded  by  a  railing  or  any  other  ob- 
struction. While  the  movement  on  this  deck 
was  in  progress,  the  engines  worked  backward 
to  counteract  as  far  as  possible  the  forward  run 
of  the  enemy.  Deck's  glass  enabled  him  to  see 
that  the  six  guns  had  been  arranged  in  the  form 
of  a  horseshoe,  corresponding  to  the  shape  of 
the  forecastle.  Two  guns  nearest  to  the  bow 
were  abreast  of  each  other,  while  the  other  four 
in  the  rear  of  them  were  so  placed  that  there 
was  space  enough  for  them  to  fire  directly  ahead. 

Deck  explained  the  arrangement  of  the  guns 
so  that  the  corporal  could  understand  it.  At 
this  moment  Seef  and  his  companion  came  out 
of  the  cabin,  where  they  had  not  only  eaten  their 


176  ON   THE   STAFF 

breakfast,  but  had  washed  the  dishes,  and  put 
the  apartment  in  good  order. 

"  You  may  as  well  land  here  as  in  any  other 
j)lace,"  said  the  lieutenant. 

"  Just  as  mars'r  says,"  replied  the  engineer. 
"  I'm  sorry  I  can't  take  the  Hipsy  back,  but 
I'm  much  obliged  to  you,  Mars'r  Lyon,  for  your 
kindess." 

The  two  contrabands  went  ashore ;  but  as 
they  were  inclined  to  see  the  result  of  the  fight 
on  the  river,  they  climbed  a  tree  where  they 
could  obtain  a  good  view  of  it,  and  Drye  re- 
plenished the  fire  and  started  the  boat.  Deck 
kept  the  launch  as  near  the  Kentucky  shore  as 
it  was  prudent  to  go.  The  corporal  put  on  all 
the  steam  he  had,  for  the  lieutenant  wished  to 
get  as  near  the  town  as  possible. 

"  The  enemy  will  not  take  it  into  their  heads 
to  fire  a  cannon-shot  at  the  Hipsy,  will  they  ?  " 
asked  the  corporal. 

"  I  think  they  have  their  hands  full,  for  they 
have  bigger  game  than  we  are ;  but  they  may, 
and  we  must  take  our  chances,"  replied  Deck, 
who   was   not   any  more    disposed   to    run   away 


THE    STEAMER    BATTLE    ON    THE    RIVER      177 

from  the  fire  of  the  enemy  than  he  was  to  un- 
necessarily expose  himself  to  it. 

The  enemy  continued  the  fire  of  musketry 
from  the  saloon  deck,  and  was  using  artillery  as 
rapidly  as  they  could  load  and  fire.  The  small 
arms  appeared  to  fall  short  of  the  mark,  for 
Deck  could  not  see  any  men  fall  on  the  Har- 
binger's forecastle ;  but  several  shots  from  the 
field-pieces  had  torn  away  the  forward  part  of 
the  saloon. 

"  The  Harbinger  has  stopped  her  wheels,  and 
she  is  no  longer  backing  up  the  stream,"  said 
Deck;  and  the  launch  had  now  reached  a  po- 
sition where  he  could  see  without  a  glass. 
"  Something  will  happen  very  soon  now." 

And  something  did  happen  before  the  words 
were  fairly  out  of  his  mouth.  One  of  the  bow 
guns  was  discharged  with  a  report  which  seemed 
to  be  twice  as  heavy  as  any  which  had  preceded 
it,  perhaps  because  the  observer  was  much  nearer 
than  ever;  and  a  shell  went  shrieking  from  its 
muzzle,  and  whizzing  through  the  air  with  a 
curve  that  dropped  it  on  the  forecastle  of  the 
New  Moon,  where  it  exploded. 


178  ON   THE   STAFF 

A  moment  later  the  other  bow  gun  sent  an- 
other, which  fell  upon  the  hurricane  deck,  knock- 
ing away  one  of  her  smoke-stacks,  and  tearing 
up  the  hurricane  deck.  The  other  four  guns 
in  quick  succession  sent  as  many  shells  into  or 
upon  the  devoted  steamer.  A  dense  smoke  was 
seen  rising  from  the  after  part  of  the  boat,  in- 
dicating that  she  was  on  fire.  By  the  time  the 
six  shells  had  been  delivered,  the  forward  guns 
were  reloaded,  and  were  immediately  discharged. 

The  gun  this  time  was  loaded  with  solid  shot, 
as  though  Captain  Batterson  wished  to  exhibit 
the  variety  of  missiles  he  had  in  store  for  them. 
The  shot  struck  the  New  Moon  on  her  cutwater, 
or  where  it  would  have  been  if  she  had  had  one, 
and  tore  open  the  bow  of  the  steamer.  The 
Harbinger  was  completely  enveloped  in  smoke, 
so  that  those  on  board  of  her  could  hardly,  if 
at  all,  see  the  boat  of  the  enemy.  Deck  had 
noticed  that  the  explosion  of  the  shell  on  the 
hurricane  deck  had  not  demolished  the  flag-staff 
on  which  floated  the  Confederate  flag;  but,  being 
out  of  the  smoke,  he  discovered  a  sergeant  low- 
ering the  "stars  and  bars"  from  its  lofty  perch; 


THE   STEAMER   BATTLE   ON   THE   RIVER      179 

and  his  thought  was  that  those  who  had  fought 
under  it  had  not  dishonored  the  Southern  sym- 
bol. 

Turning  the  head  of  the  Hipsy,  he  ran  the 
boat  up  to  the  bow  of  the  Harbinger,  shouting 
with  all  his  might  that  she  had  struck  her  jQag. 


180  ON  THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE   DESTRUCTION    OF    THE    NEW   MOON 

The  Harbinger  had  fired  another  gun,  and 
sent  a  second  solid  shot  into  the  hull  of  the 
New  Moon  before  the  little  Hipsy  could  reach 
her.  Deck  could  no  longer  see  the  enemy's 
steamer,  and  could  not  observe  the  effect  of  the 
shot;  but  the  gunners  had  obtained  the  range  of 
her  hull,  as  indicated  by  the  first  of  the  same 
kind  she  had  discharged. 

The  Union  craft  was  at  rest,  the  artillerists 
were  all  in  their  stations,  and  there  was  no  noise 
on  her  deck,  the  silence  enforced  on  board  of  a 
man-of-war  being  required  by  Captain  Batterson. 
He  was  in  the  midst  of  his  men,  for  the  duty 
they  were  performing  was  somewhat  different 
from  that  in  which  they  had  been  drilled  on  the 
field. 

The  shout  that  the  enemy  had  struck  her  flag, 
which  Lieutenant   Lyon  uttered   when   he    came 


THE   DESTRUCTION   OF   THE   NEW    MOON      181 

near  enough  to  be  heard,  was  noticed  by  some 
of  the  gunners,  and  reported  to  Captain  Batter- 
son,  and  the  launch  pointed  out  to  him  as  it 
came  alongside  the  steamer.  He  hastened  to  her, 
and  he  promptly  recognized  the  officer  at  the 
wheel. 

"  Lieutenant  Lyon !  "  he  exclaimed ;  for  in 
common  with  all  on  board  the  Harbinger,  he 
had  been  wondering  what  had  become  of  the 
little  steamer  with  the  lieutenant  and  the  corpo- 
ral on  board  of  her. 

"  The  New  Moon  has  hauled  down  her  colors, 
Captain  Batterson,"  repeated  Deck. 

"  Are  you  sure  of  it.  Lieutenant  ?  "  inquired 
the  chief  of  the  artillery. 

"Very  sure  of  it,  sir;  for  I  saw  a  man  haul 
the  flag  down  myself,"  replied  Deck.  "  I  was 
over  near  the  shore  in  this  launch,  where  I  could 
see  the  enemy  very  plainly.  More  than  that, 
Captain,  she  appeared  to  be  on  fire  at  her  stern." 

The  smoke  was  blowing  away  from  the  New 
Moon,  and  in  a  few  moments  more  she  could  be 
distinctly  seen  from  the  deck  of  the  Union  boat. 
Deck   had  observed   the  effect   produced    by  the 


182  ON   THE   STAFF 

first  solid  shot  fired,  when  it  tore  open  the  bow 
of  the  enemy ;  and  now  he  saw  that  the  second 
one  had  ripped  away  her  planking  on  the  port 
side.  The  captain  could  see  for  himself  that  the 
colors  had  been  hauled  down;  and  he  announced 
the  fact  in  a  loud  voice  to  his  men,  whereat  they 
gave  three  cheers. 

Deck  discovered  Lieutenant  Knox  on  the 
boiler  deck,  which  was  an  open  space  forward  of 
the  saloon,  through  which  the  two  funnels  passed. 
If  his  men  had  not  used  their  carbines  from  the 
stateroom  gallery,  they  were  in  readiness  to  do 
so.  Life  heard  the  announcement  that  the  en- 
emy had  struck  her  flag;  and  he  hastened  to  the 
main  deck,  for  he  had  been  one  of  the  first  to 
observe  the  launch  as  she  came  alongside. 

"God  bless  you,  Deck!  "  he  exclaimed,  as  he 
came  within  speaking  distance.  "  I  was  afraid 
you  were  killed  or  a  prisoner.  And  you  have 
your  left  arm  in  a  sling.  Not  a  bad  wound,  I 
hope." 

"No,  I  think  not;   I  am  all   right.  Life." 

By  this  time  the  New  Moon  was  not  only  on 
fire,  but  she  appeared  to  be  settling  in  the  water, 


THE  DESTRUCTION   OP  THE  NEW  MOON      183 

as  though  the  time  was  not  far  off  when  she 
would  seek  a  resting-place  at  the  bottom  of 
the  river.  Captain  Batterson  gave  the  order  to 
the  engineers  to  go  ahead,  and  the  Harbinger 
started  her  wheels;  for  an  engineer  had  evi- 
dently been  found  to  take  the  place  of  Corporal 
Drye. 

At  this  order,  the  engineer  of  the  Hipsy 
backed  away  from  the  steamer ;  and  coming 
about.  Deck  headed  her  down  the  river  towards 
the  crippled  enemy.  He  kept  the  launch  abreast 
of  the  Harbinger,  which  had  been  considerably 
battered  by  the  shots  from  her  foe,  but  her  en- 
gines were  still  in  good  working  order.  If  the 
lieutenant  at  the  wheel  had  any  doubts  before  in 
regard  to  the  fire  on  board  of  the  New  Moon, 
he  could  now  see  that  the  flames  were  ascending 
in  an  angry  volume  from  her  stern. 

One  of  the  bursting  shells  had  done  this  mis- 
chief to  her,  and  he  heard  a  waiter  on  board  say 
afterwards  that  a  number  of  straw  beds  had  been 
placed  on  the  deck  to  dry.  All  was  confusion 
and  dismay  on  the  deck  of  the  enemy;  for  the 
report  that  the  steamer  was  on  fire,  and  that  her 


184  ON   THE    STAFF 

bows  had  been  stove  in,  had  no  doubt  circulated 
among  all  hands. 

"  There  is  no  more  fighting  to  be  done  to- 
day," said  Corporal  Drye  at  the  engine. 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  Deck.  "  Our  busi- 
ness now  is  to  save  the  poor  men  on  board  of 
the  New  Moon  from  death  by  fire  or  water. 
We  must  forget  that  war  is  raging  between  the 
North  and  the  South,  and  that  the  men  on  board 
the  New  Moon  were  enemies  of  ours  half  an 
hour  ago." 

"  Those  are  my  sentiments  exactly !  "  ex- 
claimed the  corporal  heartily.  "We  don't  war 
on  men  who  are  drowning  or  burning  up,  and  I 
trust  our  people  will  save  them  all." 

"  Amen  !  "  added  the  lieutenant.  "  Hurry  her 
up  as  much  as  you  can.  Corporal." 

"  I  have  just  put  more  coal  in  the  furnace, 
and  I  think  she  is  making  as  good  speed  as  she 
has  any  time  to-day,"  replied  the  engineer. 
"  There  is  a  flatboat  pulling  towards  us,  and  she 
looks  as  though  she  had  just  come  out  of  Marrow 
Creek." 

But  he  did  not  do  anything  more  than  glance 


I 


THE   DESTRUCTION    OF   THE   NEW   MOON      185 

at  it,  for  he  was  busy  observing  the  progress  of 
the  flames  on  the  doomed  steamer.  The  wind 
was  blowing  tolerably  fresh  from  the  westward, 
or  down  the  river  at  this  stretch  of  it;  and  that 
was  in  favor  of  the  ]\Ioon,  though  the  fire  was 
working  forward  against  it.  The  blaze  was  now 
issuing  from  the  side  of  the  after  part  of  the 
saloon,  and  the  hurricane  deck  nearly  as  far  for- 
ward as  the  smoke-stacks  was  falling  in  as  the 
deck  beams  were  burned  off. 

Of  course  the  blazing  timbers  set  fire  to  the 
floor  of  the  saloon ;  and  the  woodwork  in  the 
intense  heat  burned  like  tinder,  and  there  was  no 
such  thing  as  checking  the  conflagration.  The 
engines,  or  one  of  them,  had  again  been  disabled, 
so  that  the  officers  could  not  run  her  ashore.  The 
Harbinger  was  making  all  the  speed  she  could, 
and  the  negro  firemen  were  assisted  by  the  sol- 
diers in  throwing  fuel  into  the  furnaces. 

"  They  are  jumping  overboard  at  the  stern !  " 
exclaimed  the  corporal.  "It  must  be  terribly 
warm  in  that  part  of  the  boat,  and  I  don't  blame 
the  poor  fellows  for  taking  to  the  river.  But  I 
hope  they  can  swim." 


186  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Some  of  them  have  boards,  boxes,  or  something 
else  to  support  them  in  the  water,"  added  Deck, 
whose  kindly  feelings  were  as  deeply  moved  as 
though  the  sufferers  had  fought  on  his  own  side. 

"  That  flatboat  has  begun  to  pick  them  up," 
said  the  corporal.  "  I  am  afraid  they  will  swamp 
her  as  they  crowd  into  her." 

"  We  are  abreast  of  the  Moon's  bow  now, 
and  we  shall  soon  get  at  them,"  replied  Deck. 
"  There  are  not  many  of  them  in  the  water." 

"Not  more  than  twenty,  I  should  say,"  added 
Drye.  "  Of  course  the  most  of  the  men  hastened 
to  the  bow  of  the  steamer  when  they  saw  how 
fast  the  flames  were  travelling." 

On  board  of  the  Harbinger  the  six  field-pieces 
had  been  moved  into  a  compact  mass,  and  most  of 
the  artillerists  had  been  sent  to  the  saloon  to 
make  room  for  the  imperilled  Confederates.  Deck 
saw  that  Lieutenant  Knox  was  again  in  command, 
and  had  sent  part  of  his  men  to  the  forecastle. 
Sergeant  Sluder  was  at  the  wheel,  assisted  by 
Corporal  Milton.  The  wheels  of  the  boat  had 
been  stopped,  and  the  lieutenant  was  giving  or- 
ders   to   the    engineers  which  soon   brought   the 


THE   DESTRUCTION   OF   THE   NEW   MOON      187 

forward  part  of  the  boat  alongside  that  of  the 
burning  craft. 

The  fasts  of  the  Harbinger  were  thrown  on 
the  deck  of  the  other  boat,  and  the  men  secured 
them.  The  military  commander  of  the  force  on 
the  deck  was  tall  enough  to  have  been  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  though  he  was  not ;  but  he  was  a  fine- 
looking  man.  He  stood  near  the  plank-sheer ; 
and  as  the  space  was  ample,  he  formed  his  men  by 
fours,  and  marched  them  on  board  of  the  Har- 
binger in  as  good  order  as  though  they  had  been 
on  parade.  The  company  appeared  to  be  vastly 
better  drilled  than  many  the  Unionists  had  seen. 

Lieutenant  Knox  received  them  as  they  came 
on  the  deck,  and  directed  the  officer  who  was 
leading  them  to  proceed  to  the  after  part  of  the 
deck.  There  was  not  room  enough  for  all  of 
them  there ;  and  half  of  them  were  marched  up 
the  flight  of  steps  to  the  boiler  deck,  and  into 
the  saloon. 

The  tall  captain  was  the  last  to  leave  the  deck 
of  the  New  Moon ;  and  as  he  came  on  board.  Lieu- 
tenant Knox  saluted  him  with  more  than  his 
usual  deference,  and  the  Confederate  captain  re- 


188  ON   THE   STAFF 

turned  it  with  quite  as  much  respect  and  a  good 
deal  more  grace. 

"  Lieutenant  Knox,  of  the  Riverlawn  Cavalry, 
in  command  of  this  boat,"  said  Life,  still  holding 
the  hand  of  his  late  enemy. 

"  Captain  Singer,  of  the  Twenty-Eighth  Ten- 
nessee Infantry,"  added  the  officer. 

"  I  am  really  sorry  to  meet  you.  Captain,  under 
such  unfortunate  circumstances  for  you;  but  you 
have  fought  bravely,  and  done  all  that  man  could 
do,  and  I  respect  you  for  it,"  replied  Lieutenant 
Knox,  in  the  best  English  he  could  command. 

"  Thank  you,  Lieutenant ;  and  since  the  battle 
has  gone  against  the  Confederates,  and  we  have 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Federalists,  I  am  glad 
that  my  men  are  in  the  power  of  a  considerate 
and  generous  enemy,"  replied  Captain  Singer. 
"Now,  Lieutenant -Knox,  will  you  allow  me  to 
have  my  dead  and  wounded  brought  on  board 
of  your  steamer?" 

"  Certainly,  Captain ;  and  my  men  shall  assist 
you  in  moving  them,"  answered  Life,  who  had  a 
kind  heart  in  his  rough  exterior,  and  had  taken 
some    lessons,   both  by  precept  and  example,   in 


THE   DESTRUCTION   OF   THE   NEW   MOON      189 

humanity  to  a  fallen  enemy,  from  Deck  and  from 
Major  Lyon. 

The  captain  ordered  his  men  to  attend  to  this 
duty,  and  every  cavalryman  on  board  was  or- 
dered to  assist  in  the  work.  There  were  ten 
men  killed,  and  over  twenty  wounded.  The  lat- 
ter were  borne  to  the  saloon,  and  placed  in  the 
berths  of  the  staterooms.  The  dead  were  laid 
out  at  the  stern,  and  covered  with  sailcloth.  As 
soon  as  it  was  certain  that  no  one  had  been  left 
on  board,  the  Harbinger  backed  away. 

The  Hipsy  proceeded  on  her  way  to  the  re- 
lief of  those  in  the  water,  with  Deck  still  at  the 
wheel.  The  flatboat,  with  as  many  of  the  sol- 
diers in  it  as  it  could  carry,  came  to  the  launch 
as  soon  as  she  arrived  at  the  locality ;  and  Deck 
and  Drye  found  that  it  was  in  charge  of  Seef 
and  Jake.  They  had  found  the  boat  near  where 
they  had  landed,  and  came  off  to  see  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  battle,  which  was  a  sight  that  no  one 
had  ever  seen  on  the  river  before. 

But  there  was  no  time  for  talk ;  and  the  saved 
were  taken  into  the  launch,  and  both  craft  pro- 
ceeded to  rescue  the  remainder  of  the  sufferei"s, 


190  ON   THE   STAFF 

only  a  few  of  whom  could  swim,  and  were  in 
danger  of  drowning  in  spite  of  their  frail  sup- 
ports. The  corporal  shut  off  the  steam  from 
the  cylinder,  stopping  the  screw,  and  opened  the 
safety-valve,  permitting  the  launch  to  drift  with 
the  current.  Some  of  those  who  had  been  saved 
took  a  pair  of  oars  they  found  slung  under  the 
rail,  and  a  boathook,  and  extended  them  to  those 
still  in  the  water. 

The  corporal  labored  like  a  Trojan  in  hauling 
in  the  soldiere  and  others  who  had  escaped  from 
the  burning  vessel.  The  flatboat  picked  up  those 
who  did  not  come  within  reach  of  the  launch, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  all  of  those  who  had 
been  in  peril  were  safe  on  board  of  the  Hipsy. 
One  of  them  wore  the  uniform  of  an  officer, 
and  seated  himself  on  the  divan  near  the 
wheel. 

"  This  has  been  a  bad  day  for  us,"  said  he. 

"You  have  fought  bravely,  defended  your  boat 
like  men,  and  you  have  nothing  to  regret  but 
the  loss  of  the  fight ;  for  you  come  out  of  it  with 
honor,"  replied  Deck. 

"  Thank  you.  Lieutenant,  for  your  kind  words," 


THE   DESTRUCTIOlSr   OF   THE   NEW   MOON      191 

replied  the  officer.  "  You  appear  to  be  a  staff- 
officer." 

"I  am  on  the  staff  of  General  Woodbine." 

"I  am  Lieutenant  Hewson  of  the  Twenty- 
Eighth  Tennessee." 

"I  am  glad  to  know  you,  Lieutenant,  and  I 
sympathize  with  you  in  your  misfortune ;  but  of 
course  I  rejoice  in  the  victory  we  have  won, 
though  I  was  not  engaged." 

Some  more  pleasant  words  passed  between  Deck 
and  Seef,  and  the  Hipsy  proceeded  towards  the 
town,  the  skiff  pulling  for  the  creek.  The  Har- 
binger ran  her  bow  on  the  shore,  ready  to  land 
the  prisoners.  The  whole  of  the  Union  force  left 
in  the  town  was  drawn  up  on  the  beach,  the 
three  companies  of  cavalry  mounted,  and  General 
Woodbine,  with  his  remaining  staff-officer,  on  the 
right  of  the  line. 

Lieutenant  Lyon  steered  the  launch  to  the 
point  nearest  to  the  commander,  and  ran  her  bow 
on  the  shore.  Leaving  the  corporal  to  land  the 
saved  when  the  order  to  that  effect  should  be 
given,  he  went  on  shore,  and  hastened  to  the  head 
of  the  line.     Knox  saw  that  the  general  was  on 


192  ON   THE    STAFF 

the  shore ;  and  he  permitted  no  one  to  land,  for 
both  he  and  Captain  Batterson  agreed  that  they 
should  wait  for  orders  before  anything  was  done. 
Deck  saluted  General  Woodbine,  who  returned 
the  courtesy,  and  then  extended  his  hand  to  him. 


AT  THE  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  GENERAL  193 


CHAPTER  XV 

AT  THE  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  GENERAL 

"I  HAVE  been  very  much  concerned  about 
you,  Lieutenant  Lyon,"  said  General  Woodbine, 
as  he  grasped  the  hand  of  the  young  officer. 
"It  was  reported  to  me  at  the  camp  this  morn- 
ing that  the  steam-launch  in  which  you  slept 
last  night,  with  Corporal  Drye,  had  disappeared 
during  the  night.  The  boat  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen  when  her  absence  was  discovered.  I  was 
afraid  you  had  been  killed  or  made  a  prisoner." 

"  I  suppose  you  will  believe  me.  General,  if 
I  tell  you  that  I  have  not  been  killed,  and  I 
assure  you  that  I  have  not  been  made  a  prisoner 
at  any  time,"  replied  Deck. 

"  The  evidence  that  you  were  not  killed  is 
excellent,  and  I  am  willing  to  accept  your  state- 
ment that  you  were  not  a  prisoner;  but  you 
are  wounded,"  added  the  commander. 

"  I  have  a  flesh-wound  in  the  arm,  and  I  shall 


lOtt  ON   THE   STAFF 

have  it  dressed  by  Dr.  Farnwright  as  soon  as  he 
has  attended  to  the  wounded  on  board  of  the 
Harbinger,"  replied  Deck. 

"But  where  have  you  been ?  What  pos- 
sessed you  to  sleep  on  board  of  the  steam- 
yacht  ?  " 

"  I  thought  the  craft  would  be  very  useful 
while  we  remained  here;  and  I  was  afraid  it 
would  be  taken  by  the  servants  of  Mr.  Thorn- 
field,  for  they  came  down  in  her  to  convey  him 
home,"  the  lieutenant  explained.  "  She  was 
made  fast  at  the  stern  of  the  Harbinger,  with 
sentinels  on  the  deck;  and  it  never  occurred  to 
me  that  it  was  not  as  prudent  to  sleep  in  the 
cabin  of  the  Hipsy  as  in  the  saloon  of  the  large 
steamer." 

"  Hipsy  ?  "  repeated  the  general  with  a  smile. 

"  The  name  painted  on  the  stern  and  bow  of 
the  boat  is  Hephzibah,  which  comes  from  the 
Bible  ;  but  Seef  called  her  the  Hipsy,  as  people 
in  the  country  in  New  Hampshire  generally  do, 
and  Corporal  Drye  and  I  did  the  same." 

"  And  who  is  Seef  ?  " 

"  He  was  the  engineer  of  the  craft,  and  though 


AT  THE  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  GENERAL  195 

a  slave,  he  is  whiter  than  many  white  men. 
Drye  waked  me  in  the  morning  by  telling  me 
that  the  Hipsy  was  underway.  We  took  posses- 
sion of  the  launch,  and  also  the  two  men  who 
had  swum  out  to  her,  cut  her  fast,  and  stayed 
in  the  water  till  she  had  drifted  some  distance  in 
the  darkness,  and  who  did  not  know  there  was 
anybody  on  board  of  her.  I  think  we  saved  the 
boat  by  sleeping  on  board  of  her.  I  was  afraid 
the  two  men  would  steal  her  again,  and  I  de- 
cided to  land  them  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river;  but  the  appearance  of  the  New  Moon 
drove  us  into  a  creek  over  there." 

"  Did  the  moon  alarm  you  ?  " 

"  The  moon  in  the  sky  did  not,  for  she  was 
not  in  sight;  but  the  steamer  New  Moon  did, 
for  that  is  the  name  of  the  boat  that  was 
burned,  with  which  the  Harbinger  had  her 
fight." 

"  I  must  hear  the  rest  of  the  story  another 
time,  for  here  is  Lieutenant  Knox,"  interposed 
the  commander. 

Life  approached  the  general,  and  saluted  him. 
He    was    on    foot,   for   all    the    horses   had   been 


196  ON   THE   STAFB* 

sent  back  to  the  camp.  He  reported  all  that 
had  occurred  on  board  of  the  Harbinger  since 
he  had  anchored  her  in  the  stream  off  the  shore, 
according  to  his  orders.  The  absence  of  the 
Hipsy  had  not  been  noticed  till  sunrise;  for  the 
sentinels  had  reported  the  appearance  of  a  steamer 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river  at  daylight,  and 
she  had  occupied  the  attention  of  all  on  deck. 

He  reported  that  three  had  been  killed  and 
nine  wounded  in  the  action  on  the  river,  and 
that  all  the  soldiers  remaining  on  board  of  the 
New  Moon  had  been  saved.  The  steamer  had 
burned  to  the  water's  edge,  and  had  floated  down 
the  river  with  the  current.  The  battle  had  been 
fought  mainly  by  Captain  Batterson's  artillery. 

"  It  seems  to  have  been  a  fortunate  event  that 
I  sent  the  whole  of  his  company  on  board  before 
you  hauled  the  Harbinger  out  into  the  stream," 
suggested  the  commander. 

"It  was  indeed  very  fortunate,  General  Wood- 
bine," replied  Life.  "  Captain  Batterson  handled 
his  guns  very  efficiently,  and  he  was  in  the  midst 
of  his  company  all  the  time.  He  fought  the 
battle,  and  he  deserves  all  the  credit  of  it;   for 


AT  THE  HEADQUARTEES  OF  THE  GENERAL  197 

on  our  side  most  of  the  fighting  was  done  by 
tlie  artillery,  and  our  six  guns  against  the  two 
of  the  enemy  carried  the  day  in  our  favor.  I 
wait  for  further  orders,  General  Woodbine." 

He  was  directed  to  send  the  wounded  to  the 
hospital ;  and  Lieutenant  Herndon  was  ordered  to 
carry  an  order  to  Major  Lyon,  requiring  him  to 
have  the  rest  of  Lieutenant  Knox's  platoon  sent 
to  the  steamer  to  assist  in  bearing  the  wounded 
to  the  hospital. 

'^  I  am  glad  to  see  you  again.  Deck,"  said 
Herndon,  as  he  grasped  the  hand  of  the  absentee ; 
"but  I  am  sorry  to  see  that  you  are  wounded;  " 
and  he  rode  off  to  execute  his  order. 

The  wounded  of  both  sides  were  conveyed  on 
the  sacking  and  beds  from  the  berths  of  the 
steamer  by  the  uninjured  prisoners  and  the  men 
of  Life's  platoon.  Dr.  Farnwright,  who  had  been 
sent  on  board  the  night  before,  had  attended  to 
the  Union  sufferers,  and  was  ministering  to  those 
of  the  other  side  when  the  order  for  their  removal 
came.  The  surgeon  superintended  this  work  ;  and 
on  his  way  to  the  square  he  passed  the  general, 
and  saw  Deck,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  at  his  side. 


198  ON   THE    STAFF 

"How  is  this,  Lieutenant  Lyon?  You  have 
been  wounded,  and  you  have  not  been  near  me 
yet,"  said  the  doctor,  as  he  saluted  the  com- 
mander. 

"  I  thought  you  had  enough  to  do  in  looking 
out  for  those  who  needed  you  more  than  I  did," 
replied  Deck. 

"Always  considerate,"  added  the  commander. 
"  This  morning  while  you  were  all  away,  I  took 
possession  of  Sexton's  house,  and  had  him  sent 
to  the  hospital.  I  have  established  my  head- 
quarters there  ;  and  when  you  are  ready  to  attend 
to  Lieutenant  Lyon,  you  will  find  him  there." 

"  I  am  ready  now,  and  I  will  go  with  him 
there,"  replied  the  doctor. 

The  horses  of  those  who  were  on  board  of 
the  steamer  had  been  brought  from  the  camp, 
and  those  of  Deck  and  the  surgeon  were  brought 
to  them.  They  mounted,  and,  attended  by  four 
cavalrymen,  rode  to  the  house.  Two  mounted 
men  were  on  duty  before  it  as  sentinels.  They 
entered,  and  found  that  the  general  had  taken 
the  parlor  for  his  office,  and  a  room  up-stairs 
for  his  chamber.     Finch,  his  colored  servant,  was 


AT  THE  HEADQUAETERS  OP  THE  GENERAL  199 

in  possession,  and  two  mulatto  women  were  called 
from  the  kitchen  in  the  rear.  The  man  directed 
them  to  prepare  the  room  in  the  rear  where 
Sexton  had  suffered  so  terribly  with  rheumatism, 
for  the  use  of  the  wounded  staff-officer. 

But  the  doctor  could  not  wait  for  the  room 
to  be  made  ready,  and  he  attended  to  Deck's 
wound  in  the  office.  He  found  that  the  bullet 
of  the  soldier  who  had  hit  him  had  passed  diago- 
nally through  the  fleshy  part  of  the  arm,  just  be- 
low the  elbow.  He  made  it  out  to  be  much  worse 
than  Deck  had  supposed  it  was,  for  it  had  stirred 
up  the  nest  of  muscles  and  sinews  there.  It  was 
not  a  dangerous  wound,  but  it  was  likely  to  af- 
fect the  use  of  the  arm  for  a  long  time  if  not 
well  cared  for. 

Dr.  Farnwright  dressed  the  wound,  and  then 
put  a  splint  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  member 
to  prevent  the  patient  from  twisting  his  arm, 
and  then  ordered  him  to  keep  quiet.  Before  he 
had  finished  his  task,  his  father  and  his  brother 
Artie  rode  up  to  the  house,  and  were  admitted, 
the  general  having  informed  them  that  the  lieu- 
tenant had  been  wounded. 


200  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Good-morning,  my  son,"  said  Major  Lyon, 
when  the  surgeon  had  saluted  him.  "You  have 
been  unfortunate.  Dexter,"  for  he  never  abbre- 
viated his  name,  as  everybody  else  did. 

"  On  the  contrary,  father,  I  think  I  have  been 
very  fortunate  ;  for  I  have  returned  without  a 
bullet  through  my  head  or  heart,  and  I  have 
brought  back  the  steam-launch,"  replied  Deck, 
taking  the  offered  hand,  and  speaking  very  cheer- 
fully, though  he  was  still  suffering  considerable 
pain  from  his  wound. 

"  Sorry  to  see  you  with  your  arm  in  a  sling, 
Deck,"  said  Artie,  taking  the  patient's  right  hand 
when  his  father  released  it.  "  I  ought  to  have 
been  with  you  when  you  went  off  boating." 

"If  you  had,  perhaps  you  would  have  come 
back  worse  off  than  I  am,  if  you  had  come  at  all," 
added  Deck. 

The  surgeon  hastened  out  of  the  house, 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  to  the  square  where 
the  hospital  was  located.  The  wounded  had  all 
been  removed,  and  the  prisoners  had  all  been 
marched  up  to  the  buildings  which  the  town  coun- 
cil had  set  apart  for  a  hospital.     There  were  over 


Good-morning,  my  son,'  said  Major  Lyon." 

Payv  200. 


AT  THE  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  GENERAL  201 

two  hundred  prisoners  of  war  confined  in  these 
buildings.  Though  the  town  was  hardly  more 
than  ten  miles  from  the  Tennessee  line,  it  was  a 
strong  Union  locality ;  but  there  was  a  considera- 
ble number  of  Secessionists  in  the  village  and  its 
vicinity. 

The  surgeon  had  explained  the  nature  of 
Deck's  wound  to  his  father,  and  insisted  that  he 
should  not  use  the  arm,  and  the  quieter  he  kept, 
the  better  it  would  be  for  him.  The  doctor  had 
hardly  departed  before  General  Woodbine  and  his 
remaining  aid  came  to  the  house.  The  cavalry, 
except  such  guards  as  were  required  in  the  town, 
had  been  sent  back  to  the  camp.  There  was 
nothing  to  do  but  wait  for  ordere  from  General 
Thomas,  who  had  established  his  headquarters  at 
Somerset.  The  orders  which  had  brought  Gen- 
eral Woodbine's  force  as  far  as  it  had  advanced 
to  the  westward  had  been  countermanded,  and  he 
was  ordered  to  wait  for  further  orders  where  he 
was. 

"  Well,  how  do  you  feel.  Lieutenant  ?  "  asked 
the  commander  as  he  entered  the  room. 

"  Quite  comfortable.  General ;   though  the  doc- 


202  ON   THE   STAFF 

tor  makes  out  my  wound  to  be  rather  worse  than 
I  supposed  it  was,"  replied  Deck. 

"We  are  likely  to  have  a  quiet  time  for  some 
days,  if  not  weeks ;  and  we  may  all  take  a  rest, 
unless  more  steamers  should  be  sent  up  the  Cum- 
berland to  forage  the  country  for  supplies,  or  the 
guerillas  break  loose  in  this  part  of  the  State," 
said  the  general,  as  he  seated  himself  at  his  desk. 
"But  I  want  to  hear  the  rest  of  your  story. 
Lieutenant.  You  told  me  you  were  driven  into  a 
creek  to  avoid  the  New  Moon." 

"I  could  not  find  any  landing  where  I  could 
put  Seef  and  Jake  on  shore,"  replied  Deck,  in- 
forming his  father  and  brother  who  these  persons 
were.  "  It  was  Seef  who  told  me  where  this  creek 
was;"  and  the  lieutenant  gave  all  the  details  of 
his  visit  up  the  stream. 

He  stated  in  what  manner  Corporal  Drye  had 
given  him  wrong  information,  because  the  Confed- 
erate steamer  was  concealed  in  the  curve  of  the 
river.  Seef  had  behaved  so  well  that  he  had  de- 
cided to  take  him  and  his  companion  over  to  Mar- 
row Creek,  and  land  them  there.  As  the  Hipsy 
came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  Creek,  she 


AT  THE  HEADQTJAKTERS   OF   THE   GENERAL     203 

had  encountered  the  New  Moon  entering  the 
stream  for  the  evident  purpose  of  concealing  her 
presence  from  the  people  of  the  town. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  New  Moon,  Dex- 
ter ?  "  asked  Major  Lyon,  perplexed  by  the  name. 
"  Excuse  me  for  interrupting  the  narrative, 
General." 

"  You  are  very  excusable,  for  the  name  both- 
ered me  when  your  son  mentioned  it.  The  New 
Moon  was  the  name  of  the  steamer  that  was 
burned,"  replied  the  commander. 

Deck  continued  his  story.  He  had  attempted 
to  escape  in  the  Hipsy  by  running  by  the  steamer ; 
but  after  some  delay,  which  had  afforded  him  a 
good  turn,  she  came  about  and  pursued  the 
launch.  She  opened  with  musketry  upon  the 
little  steamer,  and  followed  it  later  with  her  field- 
pieces,  one  shot  from  which  had  nearly  wrecked 
the  cabin  of  his  boat. 

He  then  described  the  position  he  had  been 
obliged  to  take  on  his  back  in  steering  the  boat, 
and  stated  that  he  had  been  wounded  while 
reaching  up  in  holding  the  spokes  of  the 
wheel.     He  had  landed  the  colored  men  in  the 


204  ON   THE   STAFF 

creek,  and  came  out  where  he  could  see  tho 
fight,  for  he  heard  the  noise  of  the  artillery  be- 
fore. 

"  You  saw  the  fight  from  the  levee,  and  it  is 
not  necessary  for  me  to  go  over  that ;  hut  I  hear- 
tily commend  Corporal  Drye  for  his  coolness  in 
danger,  for  his  skill  as  an  engineer,  and  for  his 
readiness  and  zeal  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty," 
continued  Deck,  concluding  his  narrative,  though 
he  was  called  upon  to  answer  a  great  many 
questions. 

"  Have  you  been  to  breakfast.  Lieutenant  ?  " 
asked  the  commander,  as  though  he  had  just 
thought  of  it. 

"I  have,  sir.  We  took  the  meal  up  Marrow 
Creek ;  and  it  was  cooked  by  Seef,  who  is  a  good 
cook,  as  well  as  engineer,  pilot,  and  jack-at-all- 
trades,"  replied  Deck. 

"  Finch  says  your  room  is  ready ;  and  I  think 
you  had  better  take  a  nap  before  dinner-time, 
for  you  got  up  very  early  this  morning,"  said 
General  Woodbine,  as  he  arranged  some  paper 
on  his  desk,  and  took  his  pen  in  hand  as  though 
he  intended  to  write. 


AT  THE  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  GENERAL  205 

The  lieutenant's  father  and  brother  went  with 
him  to  see  his  room  ;  and  he  concluded  to  take 
the  commander's  advice,  for  he  felt  sleepy  and 
tired  after  the  excitement  and  fatigue  of  the 
morning. 


206  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER  XVI 

REVIEW    OF   THE    SITUATION    IN    KENTUCKY 

After  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  Jan.  19, 
1862,  a  short  season  of  inactivity  followed  in 
Kentucky ;  though  there  were  skirmishes,  gue- 
rilla raids,  and  acts  of  violence,  on  the  part  of 
angry  and  overheated  partisans.  But  the  State 
had  cast  in  her  lot  with  the  Federal  government. 
The  Confederate  forces  had  attempted  to  make 
the  Ohio  River  their  principal  line  of  defence  in 
this  part  the  country,  but  had  failed. 

No  decided  demonstration  had  been  made 
against  Louisville,  which  the  enemy  desired  to 
possess,  not  only  as  a  strategetic  point,  but  for 
the  moral  effect  of  holding  the  principal  city  of 
the  State.  What  we  have  called  the  Home 
Guards  organizations,  designating  them  as  Union 
or  Confederate,  received  different  names ;  and  the 
State  Guards,  though  growing  out  of  their  posi- 
tion in  the  neutral  period,  had  been  more  prop- 


REVIEW   OF   THE   SITUATION   IN   KENTUCKY     207 

erly  called  the  Secession  Guards,  for  almost 
generally  they  joined  the  armies  of  the  South. 

In  September,  1861,  the  military  authorities  of 
the  State  obtained  power  to  require  all  arms  in 
the  hands  of  associations  suspected  of  disloyalty 
to  the  Union,  and  still  remaining  in  the  State, 
to  be  surrendered.  This  was  a  plan  for  the  de- 
struction of  the  State  Guards,  and  to  remove  the 
influence  which  had  so  far  been  active  in  draw- 
ing the  people  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  The 
legislature  had  appropriated  one  million  dollars 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  and  arming  loyal  troops, 
and  the  military  board  was  empowered  to  use  the 
credit  of  the  State  to  the  extent  of  two  millions 
more  for  the  same  object. 

In  September  the  State  also  called  from  the 
people  forty-two  thousand  troops,  or  about  one- 
half  of  those  remaining  within  her  territory  who 
were  of  the  military  age  and  able-bodied.  The 
legislature  required  the  public  offices  to  be 
moved  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy  whenever 
the  State  was  invaded  by  the  Southern  army,  and 
prohibited  the  sale  of  liquor  within  five  miles  of 
any  military  camp. 


208  ON   THE   STAFF 

Governor  Magoffin,  if  not  an  active  Secessionist, 
was  in  full  sympathy  with  the  desire  to  carry  the 
State  out  of  the  Union ;  but  the  people  as  a  rule 
had  a  profound  respect  for  the  Constitution  and 
the  laws,  and  were  disposed  to  proceed  legally, 
even  when  self-protection  rendered  it  necessary 
to  disregard  the  forms,  and  even  the  substance, 
of  the  law.  While  foes  from  without  and  foes 
within  the  State  were  trampling  on  the  statutes, 
it  was  an  extremely  difficult  matter  to  keep  within 
legal  bounds ;  the  better  class  of  people,  the  rul- 
ing influences  of  the  Commonwealth,  were  still 
in  favor  of  order. 

The  legislature  passed  many  bills  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  State,  and  the  governor  vetoed 
them  as  fast  as  they  came  to  him.  But  the 
executive  was  still  treated  with  all  the  formal  re- 
spect his  office  demanded.  The  measures  were 
passed  over  his  veto.  He  had  the  right  to  nul- 
lify any  bill  adopted  in  this  manner,  and  it  was 
very  singular  that  he  was  permitted  to  do  so  with- 
out insult  or  interference  with  his  prerogative. 
But  no  effort  to  impeach  him,  or  drive  him  from 
his   office    in  any  manner,  was    made.      He   was 


REVIEW    OF    THE    SITUATION    IN    KENTUCKY     209 

closely  watched  by  the  loyal  men  that  surrounded 
him,  but  he  appeared  to  be  guilty  of  no  overt  act 
of  disloyalty. 

Governor  Magoffin  was  no  doubt  an  honest  and 
conscientious  man,  and  entirely  sincere  in  his  be- 
lief that  the  best  interests  of  the  State  required 
that  it  should  become  a  part  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy. Though  he  was  confronted  by  a  vast 
majority  of  the  representatives  of  the  people  who 
passed  their  measures  for  the  security  of  Ken- 
tucky over  his  vetoes,  yet  it  is  an  evidence  of  his 
honesty  that,  as  the  executive  of  the  State,  he 
enforced  the  laws  that  were  legally  enacted  in 
spite  of  him. 

It  was  a  wonderful  manifestation  of  respect  for 
law,  that  this  curious  relation  between  the  gover- 
nor and  the  legislature  that  existed  for  a  year  and 
a  half  without  any  attempt  of  the  latter  to  re- 
move the  former  from  his  office,  because  the  law 
was  so  highly  respected  on  both  sides.  The  ex- 
ecutive retained  his  office  till  his  tardy  conviction 
of  his  anomalous  position  induced  him  to  resign. 

The  representatives  of  the  people  were  also 
honest,  and  acted  upon  their  convictions  of  duty. 


210  ON   THE   STAFF 

To  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  Federal  com- 
manders in  the  State,  the  legislature  passed  a  bill 
requiring  information,  surveys,  maps,  and  draw- 
ings, to  be  handed  over  to  these  officers.  The 
governor  promptly  vetoed  this  measure,  giving  as 
his  reason  that  private  property  could  not  be 
taken  without  due  process  of  law.  His  reasoning 
was  convincing  to  the  members,  and  they  receded 
from  their  former  expression,  and  there  was  only 
a  single  vote  in  favor  of  passing  the  bill  over  the 
veto  ;  and  this  was  the  only  veto  of  the  governor 
that  was  sustained  by  the  legislature. 

The  regular  troops  of  the  State  were  rapidly 
enlisted  and  organized,  and  the  discipline  and 
drill  of  the  forces  were  greatly  improved.  The 
Home  Guards,  now  that  the  State  Guards  had 
been  eliminated  by  their  retirement  into  the  Con- 
federate armies,  were  difficult  to  control.  They 
were  detached  local  bodies,  and  were  not  as  con- 
scientious as  the  governor  and  legislature,  and 
had  not  the  same  respect  for  law;  for  they  raided, 
robbed,  and  even  murdered  in  some  cases,  those 
who  sympathized  with  the  South,  though  the  lat- 
ter were  peaceable  citizens. 


REVIEW    OF   THE   SITUATION   IN   KENTUCKY     211 

"  The  local  disturbances  these  bodies  bred  were 
of  more  permanent  damage  to  the  State  than  all 
the  large  operations  of  war  that  were  ever  carried 
on  within  her  borders."  ^  The  first  and  most  im- 
portant lesson  the  young  people  of  our  country 
should  learn  is  an  earnest  and  sincere  respect  for 
law;  and  the  "Majesty  of  the  Law"  should  be 
bowed  down  to,  and  held  in  the  highest  regard, 
even  when  the  citizen  believes  himself  individ- 
ually subjected  to  injustice. 

Before  the  end  of  September  twenty-thousand 
Kentuckians  were  enlisted,  and  the  troops  from 
the  Northern  States  carried  the  Federal  force  in 
the  State  up  to  forty-thousand  men.  The  Con- 
federates were  alive  to  the  importance  to  their 
cause  of  the  possession  of  the  State,  and  they 
were  trying  to  obtain  footholds  before  the  gov- 
ernment could  mass  troops  enough  in  the  State 
to  resist  their  advance.  The  greater  portion  of 
Kentucky  south  of  the  Green  River  was  held  by 
the  enemy,  who  were  pushing  out  forces  towards 
the  more  central  sections. 

In    October    General    Zollicoffer,    with    seven 

1  Shaler  :  "History  of  Kentucky." 


212  ON   THE   STAFF 

thousand  troops,  pushed  forward  towards  the 
central  part  of  the  State  with  the  same  object  in 
view.  In  Laurel  County  he  was  confronted  by 
the  regiment  under  command  of  Colonel  Garrard, 
and  was  held  in  check  till  General  Schoepff,  with 
six  regiments  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Tennessee 
troops,  and  Wolford's  cavahy,  arrived,  and  the 
enemy  retired  with  the  loss  of  thirty  killed  and 
about  one  hundred  wounded,  while  the  Federal 
force  liad  only  four  killed  and  twenty-one 
wounded ;  but  the  latter  held  a  strong  defensive 
position. 

While  the  State  was  the  theatre  of  what  Shaler 
calls  "  endless  skirmishes  and  cross-roads  battles," 
such  as  those  in  which  the  Riverlawn  cavalry 
were  frequently  engaged,  the  Secessionists  held 
a  convention,  the  members  of  which  appointed 
themselves,  or  were  elected  by  Kentucky  regi- 
ments in  the  Confederate  army.  An  ordinance  of 
Secession  was  passed,  and  State  officers  elected. 

The  object  of  this  movement  was  to  give  the 
Secession  element  an  apparent  show  of  authority, 
believing  it  would  stimulate  the  disloyal  in  the 
State,  and  induce  them  to  make  a  demonstration 


REVIEW   OP   THE   SITUATION    IN   KENTUCKY     213 

in  favor  of  the  Confederacy.  Another  object  was 
to  persuade  the  Kentucky  regiments  in  the  South 
that  they  were  actually  acting  with  the  State  gov- 
ernment, and  fighting  for  their  beloved  Common- 
wealth. But  this  bogus  government  soon  went 
over  the  line  into  the  South,  and  remained  there, 
waiting  two  years  for  the  time  to  come  when  they 
could  take  possession  of  the  government  within 
the  borders  of  the  State.     It  never  came. 

The  Confederates  had  hoped  to  make  the  Ohio 
River  their  line  of  defence,  and  of  operations 
against  the  loyal  States  on  the  other  side  of  it. 
Failing  to  accomplish  this  purpose,  they  adopted 
another  line,  including  Columbus  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, Bowling  Green  on  the  Big  Barren,  a  branch 
of  Green  River,  and  Mill  Springs  on  the  Cumber- 
land. The  movements  of  the  Union  army  were 
then  directed  against  this  line.  Mill  Springs  had 
been  lost  to  the  enemy  by  the  battle  which  takes 
one  of  its  names  from  this  place,  but  is  more  prop- 
erly called  the  battle  of  Logan's  Cross  Roads. 

For  nearly  three  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Mill 
Springs,  the  work  of  organizing  and  drilling  the 
Federal   troops    proceeded  in  Kentucky.     About 


214  ON   THE    STAFF 

the  first  of  February  a  movement  against  the 
western  portion  of  the  Confederate  line  of  defence 
began  at  Cairo  under  the  direction  of  General 
Grant,  with  Commodore  Foote's  squadron  of 
Western  gunboats.  General  Buell  was  engaged 
in  organizing  the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  General 
Thomas  was  still  at  Somerset.  General  Wood- 
bine had  moved  his  force  along  the  Cumberland 
with  the  belief  that  he  would  be  ordered  to 
advance  from  Barkville  to  support  General 
Mitchell ;   but  the  order  had  been  countermanded. 

This  was  the  situation  when  the  steamer  fight 
occurred  on  the  Cumberland  in  which  Deck  Lyon 
was  wounded  in  the  arm.  He  showed  his  father 
and  brother  the  room  in  the  house  where  General 
Woodbine  had  established  his  headquarters,  and 
they  realized  with  satisfaction  that  he  was  in  a 
comfortable  apartment.  He  looked  quite  pale, 
for  he  had  lost  considerable  blood  before  the 
wound  had  been  dressed  by  his  companions  in  the 
Hipsy.  As  soon  as  they  had  gone,  he  went  to 
bed  in  proper  form,  and  did  not  wake  till  Finch 
called  him  to  dinner  at  one  o'clock. 

He  dressed  liimself,  and  felt  better  than  in  the 


REVIEW    OP    THE    SITUATION    IN    KENTUCKY      215 

morning,  and  received  a  hearty  greeting  from  the 
commander  and  Lieutenant  Herndon.  For  some 
reason  the  General  was  not  in  a  talking  mood, 
and  seemed  to  be  engaged  in  deep  thought.  As 
soon  as  the  meal  was  over,  he  sent  Herndon  with 
an  order  to  the  camp,  and  then  went  to  work  at 
his  desk.  Several  sheets  he  had  covered  with 
writing  lay  at  his  side ;  and  it  was  evident  that  he 
was  writing  a  report,  doubtless  of  the  capture  of 
the  Harbinger  and  the  destruction  of  the  New 
Moon. 

Deck  did  not  wish  to  disturb  him,  and  he  went 
to  his  own  room.  He  found  his  valise  had  been 
brought  from  the  tent  at  the  camp ;  and  he  occu- 
pied himself  in  writing  a  letter  to  his  mother,  not 
very  confident  when  it  could  be  sent,  for  the  mails 
were  irregular.  Then  he  mended  some  of  his 
clothes  that  needed  repairing,  and  thus  used  up 
most  of  the  afternoon.  Then  there  was  a  knock 
at  his  door,  and  Finch  came  in  at  his  call  to 
enter. 

"General  Woodbine  wishes  to  see  you,  Lieuten- 
ant ;  "  and  he  promptly  obeyed  the  summons. 

"  How    much    water    does    the    Hipsy    draw. 


216  ON    TBE    STAFF 

Lieutenant  Lyon  ?  "  asked  the  commander  as  he 
entered  the  office. 

"About  two  feet,  General,"  replied  Deck. 

"  Not  more  than  that  ?  " 

"  That  is  what  Seef  gave  me  as  her  draught, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  from  my  own  experience 
on  board  of  her  that  the  statement  was  correct." 

"  What  is  her  present  condition  ?  for  I  believe 
you  said  she  had  been  hit  by  a  cannon-shot  from 
the  New  Moon,"  inquired  the  commander,  who 
evidently  desired  to  make  use  of  her  for  some 
purpose. 

"  She  was  hit  more  than  once,  and  her  cabin 
in  the  forward  part  of  the  launch  was  consider- 
ably smashed  ;  but  she  is  otherwise  in  good  con- 
dition, and  Corporal  Drye  told  me  the  engine 
was  in  first-rate  order,"  answered  Deck. 

"  Did  Dr.  Farnwright  order  you  to  stay  in  the 
house  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  on  the  contrar}^  he  directed  me  to 
stay  out-doore  as  much  as  I  could,  but  to  take 
no  violent  exercise,"  said  Deck. 

"  Can  you  ride  your  horse  ?  " 

"The  doctor  told   me  I  might  ride    horseback 


REVIEW    OF   THE    SITUATION   IN    KENTUCKY     217 

every  day,  but  I  must  walk  my  horse  so  that  the 
jar  might  not  injure  my  arm." 

The  general  called  Finch,  and  sent  him  to 
order  the  lieutenant's  horse. 

"  You  appear  to  know  more  about  boats  than 
most  of  our  men ;  and  I  want  you  to  go  to  the 
chairman  of  the  town  council,  and  ask  him  to 
send  a  force  of  carpenters  to  the  Hipsy  to  re- 
pair the  cabin,  and  do  whatever  you  think  she 
may  need.  The  work  must  be  done  to-night. 
Wait  a  few  minutes  till  your  horse  comes.  I 
have  written  my  report  of  recent  events,  and  I 
have  other  matter  of  greater  importance  to  sub- 
mit to  General  Thomas.  It  seems  to  me  the 
easiest  and  safest  way  to  send  the  documents  is 
by  the  river,  in  the  Hipsy,  and  I  shall  employ 
Lieutenant  Herndon  as  the  messenger.  I  desire 
to  have  you  see  that  the  boat  is  properly  coaled, 
provisioned,  and  fitted  out  for  the  trip  this  after- 
noon." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  General,  but  why  do 
you  select  Lieutenant  Herndon  ?  " 

"  Because  you  are  wounded,"  replied  the  com- 
mander with   a    laugh.     "  I  should    much  prefer 


218  ON   THE    STAFF 

to  have  you  go,  because  you  are  somewhat  ac- 
quainted with  the  locality  of  Somerset." 

"  My  wound  does  not  disable  me  for  such 
duty,"  protested  Deck. 

"  Go  to  the  hospital,  and  ask  the  doctor  what 
he  has  to  say  about  it,  while  you  are  out ;  and 
if  he  does  not  object,  you  shall  be  the  mes- 
senger." 

Deck  mounted  Ceph  after  the  steed  had 
greeted  his  master,  and  departed  on  his  mission. 


AN   EXPEDITION    UP  THE   CUMBERLAND      219 


CHAPTER    XVII 

AN   EXPEDITION    UP    THE    CUMBERLAND 

Ceph  received  his  master  with  a  long  and 
delighted  neigh,  and  Deck  patted  his  neck  and 
rubbed  his  nose  ;  but  it  was  not  an  easy  thing 
for  him  to  mount  his  steed  without  disturbing 
his  arm.  A  horse-block  was  not  an  uncommon 
thing  in  the  South  any  more  than  it  was  in  New 
England,  and  one  of  the  sentinels  led  the  steed  to 
one  at  the  corner.  In  cavalry  tactics  every  move- 
ment in  mounting  is  given,  and  it  is  practised  till 
the  trooper  is  thoroughly  proficient. 

One  point  is  to  grasp  a  tuft  of  the  animal's 
mane  with  the  left  hand,  and  this  was  the  part 
which  Deck  did  not  dare  to  undertake  after  the 
instructions  of  the  doctor.  He  was  permitted  to 
ride  horseback,  but  he  was  advised  to  mount  on 
the  right-hand  side  of  the  steed.  He  was  not 
left-handed  ;  and  mounting  on  the  wrong  side  was 
too  awkward  and  heretical  for  him,  and  he  pre- 


220  ON    THE    STAFF 

ferrecl  the  horse-block.  His  left  arm  in  a  sling 
excused  him  for  resorting  to  this  method  in  the 
eyes  of  the  reasonable  critic,  and  he  was  very  soon 
in  his  seat  on  the  saddle. 

The  sentinel  wanted  to  hold  the  horse ;  but 
Ceph  made  a  row  immediately  when  the  trooper 
took  him  by  the  bit,  for  he  did  not  easily  permit 
it  when  his  master  was  present,  and  he  would 
stand  still  all  day  when  he  understood  that  his 
master  wished  him  to  do  so.  He  appeared  to 
comprehend  that  his  rider  was  wounded,  for  he 
took  a  long  snuff  at  the  injured  member.  He 
started  at  a  walk,  as  though  he  thought  this  was 
the  proper  thing  to  do  under  the  circumstances, 
though  he  usually  went  off  at  a  gallop;  but  this 
depended  upon  the  word  or  the  signal  given 
him. 

The  lieutenant  proceeded  to  the  square,  where 
he  found  the  town  council  in  session;  and  the 
messenger  at  the  door  announced  his  desire  to  see 
the  chairman.  As  an  officer  on  the  staff  of  the 
general,  he  was  received  with  proper  respect ;  and 
four  carpenters  soon  appeared  at  the  door,  armed 
with  their  tools.     The  chairman  hoped  the   lieu- 


AN   EXPEDITION   UP   THE   CUMBERLAND      221 

tenant  was  not  badly  wounded,  to  which   Deck 
replied  in  his  usual  gentlemanly  manner. 

The  mechanics  were  directed  to  follow  the 
officer  to  the  levee,  where  the  Hipsy  was  made 
fast  to  the  Harbinger  ;  and  Life  Knox  was  still  in 
charge  of  her,  with  twenty  men  of  his  platoon. 
Sentinels  were  stationed  in  different  parts  of  the 
vessel.  Sergeant  Sluder  had  become  the  pilot, 
though  he  knew  little  about  the  river,  and  had 
been  instructed  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout  on  the 
bend  of  the  river  for  any  other  steamer  that  might 
wish  to  have  a  bout  with  Captain  Batterson's 
artillery. 

The  four  guns  of  his  company  had  been  taken 
to  the  camp  and  parked  there ;  but  the  two  that 
came  up  the  river  on  the  Harbinger  still  remained 
on  her  deck.  Life  wanted  to  know  what  Deck 
was  doing,  after  he  had  inquired  about  his  arm ; 
but  he  could  only  tell  him  that  he  was  ordered  to 
have  the  steam-launch  repaired,  for  he  did  not 
feel  at  liberty  to  say  anything  about  the  mission 
on  which  she  was  to  be  sent. 

He  had  pointed  out  to  the  chief  carpenter  what 
was  to  be  done  to  the  Hipsy,  and  the  men  were 


222  ON   THE   STAFF 

engaged  in  removing  the  wreck  made  by  the  can- 
non-shot. The  lumber  for  the  work  had  been 
ordered  on  the  way  down,  and  it  came  immedi- 
ately. A  bench  was  set  up  on  the  forecastle  of 
the  Harbinger.  Deck  had  not  dismounted  ;  and  as 
soon  as  the  men  were  at  work  he  went  to  a  coal- 
yard,  and  ordered  the  fuel  for  the  furnace  and  a 
quantity  of  charcoal  for  cooking  purposes. 

The  orders  for  provisions  and  stores  were 
placed.  Deck  stood  by  to  see  that  the  carpenters 
did  their  work  properly.  The  beds  in  the  cabin 
of  the  Hipsy  were  not  first/-class,  and  the  lieuten- 
ant ordered  four  berth-sacks  and  the  bedding  for 
as  many  berths  to  be  put  on  board  from  the  Har- 
binger. He  had  two  of  them  placed  in  the  bow, 
where  there  was  room  enough  for  them.  The 
carpenters  had  finished  their  work  by  sundown ; 
and  then  the  coal,  provisions,  and  supplies  were 
stowed  away  by  troopers  under  the  direction  of 
Deck. 

The  young  officer  thought  he  had  done  his 
work,  and  done  it  well ;  for  the  Hipsy  was  ready 
for  her  trip  up  the  river.  He  started  to  walk  his 
horse  back  to  headquarters,  but  he  had  gone  but 


AN    EXPEDITION    UP   THE   CUMBERLAND      223 

a  short  distance  before  he  met  Seef  coming  down 
from  the  square.  He  could  not  help  wondering 
what  he  was  doing  in  the  town  among  so  many 
soldiers;  for  he  had  taken  his  master  down  the 
river  when  Thornfield  gave  his  information  for 
the  benefit  of  the  plundering  steamers,  for  which 
he  was  now  confined  in  the  county  jail. 

"  Good-evening,  Mars'r  Lieutenant  Lyon  !  "  ex- 
claimed Seef,  though  he  did  not  presume  to  offer 
his  hand  to  the  officer. 

"  Good-evening,  Seef ;  I  am  glad  to  see  you," 
replied  Deck,  offering  his  hand  to  the  contraband; 
for  the  man's  honesty  and  fidelity  under  difficult 
circumstances  had  won  his  regard.  "  But  what 
are  you  doing  in  the  town  at  this  time  of 
day?" 

"  Missus  sent  me  over  to  inquire  about  Mars'r 
Thornfield  ;  and  I  tried  to  see  him,  but  the  guards 
would  not  let  me  go  in,"  answered  Seef.  "  I 
hope  you  will  let  me  go  into  the  jail." 

"  I  cannot  let  you  go  in ;  no  one  but  General 
Woodbine  can  give  you  a  permit  to  see  your  mas- 
ter," added  Deck.  "  I  was  going  up  to  the  hos- 
pital  to    see    the   doctor ;   but  if  you   will  come 


224  ON   THE   STAFF 

with  me  to  headquarters,  I  will  see  what  can  be 
done  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,  Mars'r  Lieutenant ;  you  have 
been  very  kind  to  me,  and  I  will  go  with  you," 
replied  Seef;  and  he  followed  the  horse  of  the 
officer. 

They  found  the  general  walking  in  front  of 
the  house,  taking  his  exercise  after  his  long  con- 
finement in  his  office.  Deck  stated  the  errand 
of  his  companion  in  the  town,  and  asked  if 
Seef  could  be  admitted  to  the  jail  to  see  his 
master. 

"Have  you  any  message  for  Thornfield?" 
asked  the  commander,  turning  to  the  servant. 

"  No  message,  Mars'r  General,  except  to  tell 
him  that  the  family  are  all  well,  and  missus  wants 
to  know  if  he  is  well  and  comfortable." 

"  Are  you  sure  that  is  all  ?  "  demanded  the  gen- 
eral sternly. 

"  Very  sure,  Mars'r ;  that  is  all  I  have  to  say 
to  him." 

"  I  will  allow  you  to  see  him,  but  not  alone. 
Wait  a  minute.  Lieutenant,"  said  the  commander 
as  he  entered  the  house. 


AN  EXPEDITION   UP   THE   CUMBERLAND      225 

Presently  he  returned  with  a  paper  in  his  hand, 
which  he  gave  to  Deck. 

"  You  will  go  in  with  him,  Lieutenant,  and  you 
will  not  lose  sight  of  them  for  a  moment  while 
they  are  together,"  added  the  commander ;  and 
Deck  rode  off  attended  by  Seef. 

The  permit  obtained  for  them  ready  permission 
to  see  the  prisoner ;  and  as  a  staff-ofificer  the  lieu- 
tenant might  have  obtained  admission  for  the 
messenger,  but  he  was  very  careful  not  to  tran- 
scend his  powers.  The  Secessionist  was  very  glad 
to  see  his  servant,  who  entered  first ;  but  he  did 
not  look  pleased  when  Deck  entered  the  cell. 
Seef  delivered  his  message  from  the  prisoner's 
wife,  and  said  nothing  more  than  he  had  stated 
to  the  commander. 

"What  has  become  of  the  launch,  Seef?" 
asked  Thornfield. 

"  We  have  taken  possession  of  her,"  interposed 
Deck. 

"She  is  my  private  property,"  added  the  pris- 
oner indignantly. 

"If  you  use  your  private  property  to  carry  in- 
formation to  the  enemy,  we  shall  confiscate  it,  as 


226  ON   THE   STAFF 

we  have  the  Hipsy,"  replied  the  officer.  "If  you 
have  any  message  to  send  to  your  family,  deliver 
it  to  your  servant  at  once." 

"  I  am  a  Kentuckian ;  and  it  is  an  outrage  to 
take  my  property  without  any  legal  process,  and 
I  protest  against  it,  for "  — 

"  You  may  protest  as  much  as  you  please,  but 
I  have  no  time  or  inclination  to  hear  you.  You 
may  consider  yourself  fortunate  that  you  have  not 
been  shot  as  a  spy  before  this  time,  carrying  in- 
formation to  the  enemy ;  and  it  may  come  to  that 
yet,  though  you  led  the  enemy  into  a  trap." 

"  But  I  "  — 

"  Not  another  but,  Mr.  Thornfield ;  and  if  you 
have  anything  to  say  to  your  servant,  say  it 
quick,"  said  the  lieutenant  very  decidedly. 

He  told  Seef  that  he  was  a  close  prisoner,  but 
was  very  well,  was  fed  as  well  as  an  inmate  of 
a  jail  could  expect  to  be,  and  his  bed  was  good 
enough.  Deck  gently  pushed  the  messenger  out 
of  the  cell  and  followed  him. 

"What  do  you  have  to  do  at  your  master's 
house,  Seef  ?  "  asked  Deck,  as  he  rode  back  to 
headquarters  with  the  servant  at  his  side. 


AN   EXPEDITION   UP   THE  CUMBERLAND      227 

"  Almost  nothing,  Mars'r ;  I'm  the  overseer  on 
the  plantation,  and  we  can't  do  anything  on  the 
fields  at  this  season,  it  is  so  wet,"  replied  the  in- 
telligent fellow. 

"  Can  you  get  away  for  two  or  three  days  in 
case  I  should  want  you?"  Deck  inquired. 

"I  think  so,  Mars'r;  missus  has  plenty  of  ser- 
vants at  home.     What  to  do,  Mars'r?" 

"I  can't  tell  you,  Seef,  yet." 

"When  you  want  me,  Mars'r?" 

"  To-night." 

"  But  I  must  go  home,  and  tell  missus  that 
mars'r  is  all  right  if  he  don't  get  shot,"  replied 
Seef,  as  Deck  halted  before  the  hospital,  and  sent 
in  for  Dr.  Farnwright  to  come  out. 

Getting  out  of  hearing  of  the  contraband, 
Deck  stated  the  case  to  the  surgeon  in  a  low 
tone,  warning  him  not  to  repeat  anything  he 
said.  The  doctor  questioned  his  patient  till  he 
fully  understood  the  duty  in  which  he  was  to  be 
engaged,  and  then  assented  to  his  going  in  the 
Hipsy,  but  warned  him  to  use  the  utmost  care 
with  his  arm.  Then  he  returned  to  headquarters 
with  the  servant  at  his  side. 


228  ON   THE   STAFF 

In  front  of  the  house  he  dismounted,  as  he 
had  last  mounted,  on  the  wrong  side,  without  ex- 
posing his  disabled  member  to  injury.  He  re- 
ported to  the  general  that  he  had  obeyed  his 
orders.  He  had  before  informed  the  commander 
that  the  Hipsy  was  all  ready  for  the  trip,  — 
coaled  and  provisioned. 

"  I  am  afraid  there  is  some  danger  attending 
this  excursion  to  Somerset,  as  I  judge  that  you 
are  inclined  to  regard  it,  and  you  must  take 
soldiers  enough  with  you  to  protect  you  from 
an  assault,"  said  the  general. 

"I  don't  need  many,  and  the  launch  will  not 
accommodate  much  of  a  force ;  half  a  dozen  of 
us  will  be  enough,"  replied  Deck. 

"  Very  well ;   you  can  select  your  own  men." 

"  They  are  all  on  board  the  Harbinger  except 
one,"  added  Deck. 

"Who  is  that  one?" 

"  Seef .  He  knows  the  boat,  and  I  suppose  he 
knows  the  river.  I  want  Corporal  Milton,  for  he 
is  familiar  with  Fishing  Creek." 

"  All  right ;   take  whom  you  please." 

"  Seef  will  be  the  cook  and  steward,  engineer 


AN   EXPEDITION   UP  THE   CUMBERLAND      229 

and  pilot  also  if  needed.  Now  I  wish  to  take 
the  man  to  his  plantation  in  order  to  make  sure 
that  I  have  him  here  in  the  morning,"  continued 
the  lieutenant.  "  The  doctor  says  I  am  all  right ; 
and  I  never  felt  better  in  my  life,  except  that 
I  must  look  out  for  my  arm." 

"  Manage  the  matter  as  you  please,  Lieuten- 
ant," added  the  commander. 

Deck  left  the  house,  and  Seef  was  waiting  for 
him  outside.  He  walked  to  the  river  with  him ; 
and  they  went  on  board  of  the  Harbinger,  and 
the  lieutenant  called  upon  Life  for  Milton  and 
Drye,  and  stated  that  he  should  want  Sandy 
Lyon  and  Tilford  the  next  morning  very  early. 
He  then  sent  Seef  to  fire  up  in  the  Hipsy,  tell- 
ing him  that  he  would  take  him  home. 

By  the  time  the  steam  was  up,  Milton  and 
Drye  came  on  board  of  the  launch  fully  armed. 
Deck  took  his  supper  with  Knox,  and  Seef  was 
provided  for,  leaving  Drye  to  attend  to  the  en- 
gine. By  half-past  seven  the  boat  got  underway, 
and  Seef  ran  her  at  her  best  speed.  At  the 
usual  landing-place  for  the  plantation,  the  con- 
traband overseer  went  to  the  house.     He  reported 


230  ON   THE   STAFF 

the  condition  of  the  prisoner,  but  he  said  nothing 
of  the  possibility  that  he  might  yet  be  shot  as  a 

spy- 
He  did  not  explain  in  what  manner  he  had 
induced  his  mistress  to  give  him  leave  of  ab- 
sence for  three  days,  but  he  said  he  had  it.  He 
wanted  to  go  with  Deck,  even  though  he  did  not 
know  where  he  was  going ;  for  his  kindness  had 
made  him  a  strong  friend  to  the  lieutenant. 
The  launch  returned  to  the  town,  and  Corporals 
Drye  and  Milton  slept  on  board  of  her  that  night. 
Finch  called  both  the  general  and  the  lieuten- 
ant at  five  o'clock  the  next  morning;  and  the 
former  delivered  a  package  wrapped  in  oilcloth 
to  the  messenger,  and  said  some  pleasant  words 
to  him  at  his  departure. 

When  Deck  reached  the  river  he  found  that 
Seef  was  getting  up  steam,  though  Milton  and 
Drye  had  not  yet  turned  out.  They  were  called, 
and  Tilford  and  Sandy  Lyon  soon  came  on  board. 
It  was  still  quite  dark,  but  Deck  decided  that 
the  boat  should  start  as  soon  as  she  had  steam 
enough.  Corporal  Drye  was  to  be  the  regular  en- 
gineer, and  Seef  was  relieved  from  duty  in  that 


AN    EXPEDITION    UP   THE   CUMBERLAND      231 

capacity,  and  directed  to  get  breakfast  for  all 
hands.  As  the  daylight  began  to  appear  in  the 
east,  the  Hipsy  backed  out  from  the  levee,  and 
headed  up  the  river.  It  was  just  the  kind  of 
an  expedition  which  pleased  Deck ;  for  he  had 
all  the  ordinary  boy's  fancy  for  exploits  on  the 
water,  and  he  was  in  his  element. 


232  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

THE    HIPSY   UNDER   FIRE   AGAIN 

Deck  Lyon  was  still  only  eighteen  years  old, 
and  there  yet  remained  in  him  a  great  deal  of 
the  genuine  boy.  He  was  past  driving  hoop  and 
playing  marbles ;  but  he  could  not  conceal  from 
himself  that  he  was  fond  of  boating  and  riding 
horseback,  and  that  if  the  opportunity  had  pre- 
sented itself  before  him,  he  would  have  enjoyed 
a  game  of  base-ball,  or  to  have  kicked  football 
in  the  old-fashioned  way  as  it  was  played  in  the 
country,  where  barked  shins  and  broken  heads 
were  not  a  necessary  part  of  the  sport. 

Bar  Creek  and  Green  River,  on  which  River- 
lawn  was  located,  had  been  the  scene  of  his  prin- 
cipal pleasures  ;  for  with  the  other  property  Major 
Lyon  had  received  with  the  plantation  were  two 
or  three  boats.  The  Magnolia  was  a  large  sail- 
boat, but  the  boys  were  not  allowed  to  use  that; 
for  the  father  regarded  it  as  a   dangerous  play- 


THE   HIPSY   UNDER   FIRE   AGAIN  233 

thins:  for  those  who  were  not  skilled  in  the  man- 
agement  of  such  craft ;  and  when  it  was  used,  it 
was  rowed  by  six  stout  negroes,  who  had  been 
trained  to  the  use  of  the  oars  by  Colonel  Duncan 
Lyon,  the  original  owner  of  the  place. 

But  the  boys  used  a  small  keel-boat  called  the 
canoe ;  and  they  had  explored  the  creek  and  the 
river  with  it,  and  were  always  delighted  with  this 
occupation.  In  this  manner  Deck  had  acquired 
some  skill  and  experience  in  the  handling  of 
boats.  When  his  duty  called  him  as  an  officer 
to  use  the  confiscated  steam-launch,  he  felt  quite 
at  home  in  her,  though  her  motive-power  was  en- 
tirely new  to  him;  and  his  most  pleasing  occu- 
pation was  his  service  on  the  river  and  creeks, 
and  flying  bullets  and  cannon-balls  about  his  head 
did  not  cure  him  of  his  propensity  for  boating. 
He  was  not  an  engineer,  though  he  was  theoreti- 
cally acquainted  with  the  steam-engine  in  a  gen- 
eral way;  and  doubtless  further  sailing  in  the 
launch  would  have  made  him  competent  to  run 
the  machine. 

It  was  not  altogether  because  he  was  fond  of 
boats,  and  especially  of  the  steam-launch,  that  he, 


234  ON   THE    STAFF 

rather  than  Lieutenant  Herndon,  should  be  sent 
on  the  expedition  up  the  river,  but  because  he 
was  disabled  from  active  duty,  and  his  companion 
on  the  staff  could  be  serviceable  in  the  camp. 
His  object  was  to  make  himself  as  useful  as  pos- 
sible in  his  injured  condition,  and  to  have  a  more 
active  person  near  the  commander. 

When  he  took  his  place  in  the  standing-room 
of  the  Hipsy,  Deck  Lyon  felt  that  he  had  re- 
turned to  his  element,  though  he  never  considered 
himself  out  of  it  when  he  was  at  the  head  of  his 
platoon,  or  carrying  the  orders  of  the  general. 
He  went  to  the  wheel,  which  he  could  handle 
very  well  with  liis  right  hand  alone. 

Corporal  Drye  was  the  engineer,  to  be  relieved 
by  Seef  when  not  engaged  in  his  active  duties 
as  cook  and  steward.  The  staff-officer  had  four 
corporals  in  his  small  command,  not  chosen  be- 
cause they  were  non-commissioned  officers,  but 
because  they  were  the  men  he  wanted,  and  with 
whom  he  had  served  in  the  field.  One  of  the 
first  he  had  selected  was  Corporal  Winfield  Mil- 
ton, whom  he  had  met  when  the  attack  on  Mr. 
Halliburn's  mansion  had  been  made  by  guerillas. 


THE   HIPSY   UNDER   FIRE  AGAIN  235 

He  had  lived  all  his  life  as  boy  and  man  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  battlefield  of  Mill  Springs. 
He  was  a  fisherman  for  sport,  and  was  familiar 
with  all  the  creeks  and  small  streams  of  the  coun- 
try; and  for  this  knowledge,  as  well  as  because 
he  was  a  very  intelligent  and  reUable  man.  Deck 
had  made  him  his  first  choice. 

"  I  suppose  you  feel  as  though  you  were  go- 
ing home,  Corporal  Milton,"  said  Deck  after  the 
Hipsy  was  out  in  the  middle  of  the  river. 

"I  haven't  the  least  idea  where  we  are  going, 
Lieutenant,  and  therefore  it  did  not  occur  to  me 
that  I  was  going  in  the  direction  of  home,"  replied 
the  corporal ;  and  the  four  of  this  grade  were 
seated  on  the  divan  that  surrounded  the   wheel. 

"Did  you  ever  steer  a  boat,  Milton?"  asked 
the  lieutenant,  without  informing  him  of  the 
destination  of  the  launch. 

"  I  have  steered  the  flatboats  on  the  creeks 
when  I  have  been  out  fishing.  I  used  to  know  a 
fellow  who  was  assistant  pilot  on  a  steamboat, 
and  I  went  down  to  Nashville  on  his  boat  once. 
I  spent  a  good  deal  of  the  time  when  he  was  on 
duty  with  him,  and  I  saw  how  the  steering  was 


236  ON   THE   STAFF 

done ;  but  that  is  all  I  know  about  it,"  replied 
the  corporal. 

"  The  first  thing  for  you  to  learn  on  this  trip 
is  to  steer  the  launch,"  added  Deck. 

"It  looks  easy  enough." 

"It  is  easy  enough  when  you  know  how.  I 
never  steered  with  a  wheel  till  I  tried  it  in  this 
boat  day  before  yesterday ;  so  I  am  not  much 
ahead  of  you,  though  I  am  used  to  keel-boats," 
continued  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  got  some  idea  of  the  thing  when  I  was  on 
the  trip  with  Gookill ;  but  he  would  not  let  me 
steer  the  boat,"  Milton  explained.  "  I  think  I 
could  do  it  after  a  little  practice." 

"  I  am  sure  you  could." 

"  When  you  pull  the  top  of  the  wheel  towards 
you,  it  turns  the  boat  to  the  left,"  said  the  cor- 
poral. 

"You  can  see  the  tiller,  and  the  tiller-ropes 
that  lead  from  the  drum  of  the  wheel  to  the  end 
of  it.  When  I  pull  the  wheel  over  towards  me,  it 
winds  up  the  rope  on  the  drum  from  the  opposite 
side,  and  that  draws  the  tiller  towards  the  port 
side,  and  that  is  putting  the  helm  to  port.     When 


THE   HIPSY  UNDER   FIRE   AGAIN  237 

I  turn  the  wheel  from  me,  it  winds  up  on  the 
other  side,  and  puts  the  tiller  over  to  the  star- 
board side,"  Deck  demonstrated,  illustrating  his 
remarks  with  the  movements  of  the  wheel. 

"  I  see  what  you  mean.  When  you  want  to  go 
to  the  left,  you  put  the  wheel  to  port." 

"  No,  you  don't !  "  exclaimed  the  lieutenant. 
"  You  put  the  tiller  in  the  opposite  direction  from 
that  you  wish  to  go.  Starboard  the  helm  sends 
the   boat  to  port." 

"I  see;  I  have  got  it  now,"  said  Milton,  quite 
delighted  with  his  proficiency. 

"  If  you  do,  you  may  take  the  wheel,"  added 
Deck. 

It  was  fairly  daylight  by  this  time,  and  the 
Hipsy  was  in  the  middle  of  the  river.  The  cor- 
poral rose  from  his  seat,  and  took  his  place  on  the 
starboard,  or  right-hand  side,  of  the  wheel,  laying 
hold  of  the  spokes.  "  Though  you  could  steer 
the  boat  standing  on  that  side,  I  believe  it  is  the 
rule  to  stand  on  the  port  side,"  Deck  interposed. 
"I  always  sat  on  the  port  side  when  I  steered  a 
boat  on  Bar  Creek,  and  it  comes  handy  to  me  to 
be  on  that  side." 


238  ON   THE   STAFF 

The  corporal  took  his  place  on  the  left ;  and  for 
an  hour  Deck  instructed  him  in  all  he  knew  about 
steering  with  a  wheel,  which  was  not  much.  By 
this  time  he  had  got  the  hang  of  the  wheel,  and 
steered  very  well.  He  was  pleased  with  the  occu- 
pation, and  had  given  his  whole  mind  to  it.  He 
was  not  only  intelligent,  but  he  was  ingenious, 
and  could  readily  see  into  what  was  perplexing 
to  most  men. 

"Breakfast  on  the  table,  Mars'r,"  said  Seef, 
coming  aft.  "  Shall  I  take  the  wheel,  Mars'r 
Lieutenant?  " 

"I  will  stay  here  while  you  eat  your  breakfast," 
interposed  the  corporal. 

"I  am  not  quite  willing  to  leave  you  at  the 
helm  alone,  Milton,  till  you  have  had  a  little  more 
experience,"  Deck  objected.  "  Seef  will  steer 
while  the  rest  of  us  are  at  the  table." 

"All  right.  Lieutenant,"  replied  the  corporal  as 
he  yielded  the  wheel  to  the  steward. 

"After  a  while  we  shall  come  to  water  where 
you  will  be  the  only  man  on  board  who  is  com- 
petent to  pilot  the  boat,"  added  Deck,  as  they 
went  forward  to  the  cabin. 


THE    HIPSY   UNDER    FIRE   AGAIN  239 

Seef  had  evidently  "  laid  himself  out "  on  the 
breakfast,  for  the  table  would  not  have  disgraced 
any  decent  hotel.  His  facilities  for  cooking  were 
on  a  limited  scale ;  but  his  ham  and  eggs  looked 
as  nice  as  though  they  had  been  cooked  by 
Diana,  —  not  Dinah,  as  she  insisted  upon  adding 
when  she  gave  her  name,  —  the  housekeeper  at  the 
Riverlawn  mansion.  The  coffee,  with  its  color 
changed  by  the  addition  of  milk  this  time,  was 
also  as  nice  as  though  the  coffee-pot  had  been 
presided  over  by  the  same  immaculate  Diana,  not 
by  Dinah,  who  was  Deck  Lyon's  belle-ideal  of 
a  cook. 

The  ship's  company,  including  those  who  were 
simply  marines,  praised  the  principal  dish  and 
the  coffee,  both  in  their  speech  and  by  the  quan- 
tity they  consumed.  Corporal  Sandy  Lyon,  a 
cousin  of  Deck,  who  had  followed  his  father  into 
the  Confederate  forces,  but  had  run  away  with 
his  brother  in  disgust  before  the  enemy's  supplies 
arrived  at  Bowling  Green,  hinted  that  he  should 
like  to  know  where  the  expedition  was  bound. 
He  had  done  his  duty  faithfully,  and  had  fought 
bravely  on  the  field,  and  had  earned  his  promo- 


,240  ON   THE   STAFF 

tion  in  the  Union  service ;  but  Deck  did  not 
open  his  mouth. 

"  Boat  coming  out  from  the  Tennessee  shore !  " 
shouted  Corporal  Drye  from  the  engine,  as  he 
walked  towards  the  cabin-door. 

"  What  does  she  look  like  ? "  asked  the  lieu- 
tenant, who  was  seated  next  to  the  door  at  the 
head  of  the  table. 

"  There  are  not  less  than  six  men  in  it,  and 
perhaps  more,"  replied  the  engineer.  "It  is  a 
large  flatboat,  and  it  came  out  of  a  creek  some 
distance  ahead  of  us.  I  reckon  some  of  the  peo- 
ple that  live  along  the  river  here  would  like  to 
get  hold  of  this  boat,  for  she  would  be  very  use- 
ful to  them." 

"  Are  they  soldiers  ?  "  asked  Deck. 

"  I  reckon  they  are  ;  but  I'm  not  sure  of  it. 
For  the  last  half-hour  they  could  see  only  Seef 
and  me  in  the  boat,  and  I  reckon  they  think  it 
is  a  good  chance  for  them  to  get  her,"  replied 
Drye,  as  he  took  another  look  at  the  flatboat. 
"  They  are  pulling  their  boat  to  a  point  just 
ahead  of  the  Hipsy." 

By   this    time    all    at   the    table    had    finished 


THE   HIPSY   UNDER   FIRE  AGAIN  241 

their  breakfast,  and  rose  from  their  seats  on  the 
transom,  where  the  beds  were  made  up  at  night. 

"  Sit  down  again !  "  exclaimed  the  lieutenant 
ver}'-  decidedly.  "  Not  a  man  must  show  himself 
without  orders." 

The  men  were  curious  to  see  the  approaching 
boat,  but  they  promptly  obeyed  the  order.  Deck 
did  not  claim  to  be  a  strategist ;  but  others,  includ- 
ing General  Woodbine,  gave  him  the  credit  of 
considerable  skill  in  that  direction.  He  seemed 
always  to  know  what  to  do  when  an  emergency 
came,  and  the  three  corporals  with  him  saw  he 
had  a  plan  in  his  fertile  brain.  Drye  went  back 
to  the  engine,  and  continued  to  observe  the  flat- 
boat. 

After  shovelling  more  coal  into  the  furnace, 
he  went  to  the  cabin  and  borrowed  Deck's  field- 
glass,  which  he  brought  to  bear  upon  the  craft. 
He  looked  at  her  attentively  for  some  minutes. 
He  made  out  two  things,  —  that  the  men  wore 
the  gray  uniform,  and  that  they  were  provided 
with  muskets,  which  he  reported  to  the  lieuten- 
ant. A  little  later  he  discovered  three  more 
men  in  the  flatboat,  who  had  perhaps  been  asleep 


242  ON   THE   STAFF 

on  the  bottom  before,  of  which  he  also  informed 
his  officer. 

"  Corporal  Milton,  do  you  think  it  probable 
that  the  news  of  our  fights  with  the  steamers  has 
travelled  up  the  river  as  far  as  this?  "  asked  Deck 
in  the  cabin. 

"  How  far  up  the  river  have  we  come.  Lieu- 
tenant?" asked  the  corporal. 

"  The  current  is  against  us,  but  I  should  say 
about  fifteen  miles,"  replied  Deck  after  consult- 
ing his  watch. 

"  I  would  wager  two  catfish  against  a  doodle- 
bug that  people  on  both  sides  know  about  our 
two  fights  with  the  steamers,"  replied  Milton,  tak- 
ing from  his  pocket  half  a  sheet  of  a  newspaper, 
and  pointing  out  a  full  account  of  the  affairs  to 
the  lieutenant. 

"  When  was  this  issued  ?  " 

"I  got  it  yesterday  morning,  and  probably  it 
has  gone  all  over  the  county  by  this  time,"  an- 
swered the  corporal. 

Deck  looked  over  the  article.  It  was  an  extra 
of  a  Union  paper ;  and  near  the  end  of  it,  the 
Hipsy  was  mentioned  by  her  full  name  in  stating 


THE   HIPSY   UNDEK   FIRE   AGAIN  243 

how  the  fight  with  the  New  Moon  had  begun. 
It  reported,  that  the  steam-launch  had  been  taken 
by  the  Union  forces. 

"  If  we  are  only  fifteen  miles  from  Barkville, 
that  paper  has  been  read  in  nearly  every  white 
man's  house  in  this  vicinity,"  said  Milton,  as 
Deck  returned  the  paper  to  him. 

"What  boat's  that?"  demanded  a  voice  from 
outside,  just  as  the  lieutenant  finished  his  hasty 
examination  of  the  extra.  "  Tell  him  she  is  the 
Hipsy  of  Marrow  Creek,"  he  added,  opening  the 
door  he  had  closed  before  just  wide  enough  to 
permit  him  to  speak  to  the  engineer,  who  had 
deemed  it  wise  to  shelter  liis  body  behind  the 
engine. 

"  We  want  that  boat !  "  yelled  the  same  voice. 

"  You  can't  have  her !  "  replied  Corporal  Drye 
in  the  same  vigorous  tone. 

There  were  two  square  windows  on  each  side 
of  the  cabin,  and  one  in  the  forward  end.  The 
lieutenant  had  forbidden  his  men  to  look  out  at 
these  openings  when  they  attempted  to  do  so. 
Seated  on  the  transom,  their  heads  could  not  be 
seen ;   and  Deck  would  not  exhibit  his  force  till 


244  ON    THE   STAFF 

the  occasion  required.  Seef  had  imitated  the  ex- 
ample of  "mars'r"  at  the  wheel  by  lying  down 
on  the  floor  of  the  standing-room,  and  steered 
with  the  wheel  over  his  head. 

Drye  hurried  the  boat  all  he  could ;  and  as 
she  was  passing  the  flat  a  volley  of  musketry 
was  fired  into  her,  but  no  one  was  hit.  Milton 
was  ordered  to  fire  from  the  window  over  his 
head,  and  the  man  who  was  steering  with  an 
oar  dropped  into  the  bottom  of  his  boat. 


END   OF   THE   AFFAIR    WITH    THE   FLAT        245 


CHAPTER   XIX 

THE  END  OF  THE  AFFAIR  WITH  THE  FLAT 

Though  the  volley  fired  from  the  flatboat  had 
harmed  no  one  on  board  of  the  Hipsy,  the  enemy, 
as  the  nine  men  had  by  this  time  proved  them- 
selves to  be,  brought  their  boat  about,  and  pur- 
sued the  launch  astern  of  her.  They  had  done 
no  injury  before  for  the  simple  reason  that  they 
could  see  no  one  on  board ;  four  of  the  party  being 
in  the  cabin  with  the  door  closed,  the  engineer 
concealing  himself  behind  the  upright  engine,  and 
the  helmsman  lying  on  his  back  under  the  wheel. 

"  This  won't  do !  "  exclaimed  Lieutenant  Lyon, 
as  he  realized  the  situation  of  his  little  force,  with 
the  flat  astern  of  the  Hipsy  in  such  a  position 
that  the  enemy  could  rake  her  fore  and  aft ;  and 
they  were  now  firing  as  fast  as  their  flint>locks 
could  be  loaded.  "  Tell  Seef  to  come  about,  and 
head  the  launch  for  the  Kentucky  shore,  Cor- 
poral Drye." 


246  ON   THE    STAFF 

He  opened  the  door  just  enough  to  permit  him 
to  speak  to  the  engineer ;  but  the  glance  enabled 
him  to  see  the  craft  astern  more  clearly  than  he 
had  observed  it  before  through  the  open  window, 
which  was  not  more  than  nine  inches  square. 

"Did  you  see  the  boat,  Lieutenant?"  asked 
Milton. 

"  Very  distinctly,"  replied  Deck.  "  She  is  very 
long,  and  sits  lightly  on  the  water.  She  has  six 
men  at  the  oars ;  and  they  are  sending  her  ahead 
at  great  speed  for  such  a  craft,  and  I  should  say 
they  were  making  six  miles  an  hour." 

"  There  are  not  many  of  that  kind  of  boats  on 
this  part  of  the  river,  but  I  have  seen  one  of  them 
catch  up  with  a  steamer,"  added  Milton. 

"  It  must  have  been  a  very  slow  steamer,"  re- 
plied the  lieutenant.  "  We  are  not  making  more 
than  eight  miles  an  hour  against  the  current, 
though  Drye  is  hurrying  her  now." 

As  he  spoke,  two  bullets  came  through  the  door 
of  the  cabin,  one  of  them  smashing  the  lantern 
that  was  suspended  over  the  table,  and  scattering 
the  glass  on  the  heads  of  the  men. 

'•'•  That  looks  like  business,"  said  Corporal  Til- 


END  OF  THE  AFFAIR  WITH  THE  FLAT   247 

ford  —  who  was  a  man  of  forty,  and  was  regarded 
as  a  sort  of  veteran,  for  he  had  seen  more  service 
than  most  of  the  party  —  with  a  smile,  for  he 
seemed  to  have  no  idea  of  the  sensation  of  fear. 

"  Very  like  business,  Tilford ;  and  at  this  rate 
we  shall  be  picked  off  in  time,  though  none  of  us 
have  yet  been  hit,"  added  Deck,  as  he  opened  the 
door  a  little  so  that  he  could  observe  the  present 
situation ;  for  Seef  had  brought  the  boat  about, 
and  she  was  now  moving  towards  the  north  shore. 

But  the  long  boat  had  followed  suit,  and  was 
still  pursuing  the  launch,  the  oarsmen  straining 
themselves  to  the  utmost.  The  enemy  had  not 
come  about  as  readily  as  the  Hipsy  had  done, 
and  they  had  lost  some  of  the  distance  that  sepa- 
rated the  two  combatants,  and  Deck  saw  the  flat 
over  the  starboard  quarter  of  the  launch.  The 
ruffians  were  too  busy  with  their  oars  just  then 
to  make  a  good  use  of  their  muskets ;  though  two 
of  the  extra  men  who  had  been  counted,  one  of 
whom  had  fallen  before  the  shot  of  Milton  from 
the  window  in  the  stern,  were  still  using  their 
weapons,  though  with  no  effect,  for  they  could  see 
no  one  on  the  little  steamer. 


248  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  Don't  go  out,  Lieutenant  Lyon !  "  exclaimed 
Milton,  as  Deck  opened  the  door  enough  to  per- 
mit his  passage  into  the  waist;  you  will  cer- 
tainly be  shot  if  you  show  yourself !  " 

"I  can't  help  it  if  I  am  ;  I  can't  stand  this  any 
longer.  We  shall  be  shot  if  something  is  not 
done,"  replied  Deck,  as  he  stooped  low,  and  went 
into  the  waist. 

He  placed  the  engine  between  liimself  and  the 
enemy,  and  advanced  to  the  side  of  the  engineer. 

"  Have  you  got  on  all  the  steam  she  will  bear, 
Corporal  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  think  so ;  at  any  rate,  I  will  not  risk  any 
more,  for  I  had  rather  be  shot  than  blowed  up,  as 
the  less  of  two  evils,"  replied  Drye,  keeping  him- 
self behind  the  boiler  as  the  long  boat  changed 
her  relative  position.  "  Seef  knows  this  machine 
better  than  I  do;  if  you  will  let  me  steer  the 
boat,  and  call  him  to  the  engine,  I  think  we  shall 
do  better." 

"  We  are  moving  at  more  than  eight  miles  an 
hour  across  the  current,  and  you  are  going  fast 
enough,"  added  Deck,  as^  an  idea  seemed  to  take 
sudden  possession  of  his  active  brain. 


END  OF  THE  AEFAIR  WITH  THE  FLAT   249 

Stooping  as  low  as  he  could  and  move,  he 
crawled  mto  the  standing-room,  and  placed  him- 
self at  the  side  of  Seef.  The  flat,  as  the  craft  is 
generally  called,  sat  low  in  the  water,  so  that  the 
enemy  while  seated  could  not  see  over  the  rail  of 
the  launch.  Deck  cautiously  raised  his  head  to 
obtain  another  sight  at  the  flat,  for  he  was  intent 
upon  the  execution  of  the  plan  he  had  in  his  head. 
It  was  moving  diagonally  with  the  course  of  the 
river  towards  the  Hipsy,  and  not  more  than  a 
hundred  feet  distant  from  her. 

"  Come  about  as  short  as  you  can,  Seef,  and 
head  her  for  the  Tennessee  shore,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  I  can't  see  anything  outside  from  here,  Mars'r," 
replied  Seef,  as  he  tlirew  the  wheel  over. 

"  That's  all  right,  Seef  ;  you  steer  as  I  tell  you, 
and  don't  raise  your  head  where  it  can  be  seen  by 
the  enemy,"  added  Deck,  as  he  saw  the  boat  com- 
ing about. 

Then  he  crawled  forward,  as  the  launch  was 
still  swinging,  as  far  as  the  engine,  where  he 
stopped  to  take  another  view  of  the  flat  from  the 
friendly  shelter  of  the  boiler. 


250  ON  THE   STAFF 

"  We  are  coming  about,  Lieutenant,"  said  Cor- 
poral Drye  wlien  the  officer  was  at  his  side. 

"  Exactly  so,  and  I  intend  to  make  an  end  of 
that  fiat  before  she  is  ten  minutes  older  than  she 
is  now,"  answered  Deck,  with  his  teeth  set  firmly, 
as  though  he  was  bent  on  some  desperate  purpose. 

But  he  was  not  in  a  talking  mood  just  then ; 
and  he  gave  his  whole  attention  to  the  enemy, 
who  seemed  to  be  very  much  perplexed  by  the 
movements  of  the  Hipsy,  and  just  then  they 
seemed  to  be  jawing  with  each  other  angrily,  as 
though  there  was  a  decided  difference  of  opinion 
among  them.  In  the  wrangle  they  were  neglect- 
ing their  own  boat,  and  even  the  two  men  in  the 
bow  had  ceased  to  fire  in  their  interest  in  the  dis- 
cussion ;  but  they  were  loading  their  muskets,  and 
presently  resumed  the  work  for  which  they  had 
been  stationed  forward. 

"  The  ruffians  are  disputing  about  what  they 
had  better  do,"  said  Deck. 

"  We  have  not  lost  a  man  yet,  and  I  hope  we 
shall  not,"  replied  the  engineer.  "Those  fellows 
might  as  well  shoot  with  a  gridiron  as  with  those 
old  flint-locks." 


END  OF  THE  AFFAIR  WITH  THE  FLAT   251 

"I  don't  intend  to  lose  a  man,"  answered  Deck, 
as  he  lay  down,  and  crawled  forward  to  the  door 
of  the  cabin. 

The  launch  had  now  come  about  far  enough 
to  be  headed  directly  towards  the  flat,  and  was 
still  a  hundred  feet  from  it  after  the  circuit  she 
had  taken  in  coming  about.  But  the  eight  men 
in  the  other  boat  were  evidently  beginning  to 
realize  that  they  were  swallowing  their  own  heads 
in  abandoning  both  their  oars  and  their  muskets. 

They  appeared  to  conclude  that  as  the  Hipsy 
was  headed  directly  towards  them,  it  was  useless 
for  them  to  row ;  and  they  suddenly  grasped  their 
muskets,  and  opened  a  brisk  fire  upon  her.  The 
flat  was  now  in  the  current ;  and  though  the  rob- 
bers attempted  to  stand  when  they  fired,  the  boat 
was  evidently  too  unsteady  for  them  to  do  so,  as 
the  flow  created  something  like  small  rollers  on 
the  surface. 

The  lieutenant  opened  the  door  of  the  cabin, 
and  left  it  so,  as  the  enemy's  craft  was  not  di- 
rectly ahead,  and  there  was  no  danger  to  the 
party  inside.  In  the  waist,  on  the  flooring  at  the 
bottom  of  the  launch,  was  the  furnace  on  which 


252  ON    THE    STAFF 

Seef  did  the  cooking.  It  was  a  cast-iron  affair, 
not  much  larger  than  an  ordinary  bucket  (there 
are  no  pails  in  the  West),  lined  with  fire-brick, 
in  which  a  charcoal  fire  was  made.  It  rested  on 
a  stand  of  wood  about  four  feet  square,  covered 
with  sheet-iron  to  prevent  the  boat  from  being 
set  on  fire. 

Deck's  attention  was  directed  to  this  stand,  as 
he  had  no  use  for  the  furnace ;  and  he  called 
out  Milton  and  Tilford  just  as  a  bullet  passed 
through  the  forward  part  of  the  cabin,  and  lodged 
in  one  of  the  small  beams  overhead.  He  di- 
rected the  two  men  to  remove  the  furnace,  and 
set  the  stand  up  edgewise. 

"Corporal  Drye,"  called  the  lieutenant. 

"Here,  sir." 

"  Tell  Seef  to  come  about  again." 

The  launch  began  to  turn  once  more  ;  and  Deck 
at  the  right  time  directed  the  two  corporals  for- 
ward to  move  the  stand  to  the  bow,  where  it  was 
placed  with  the  sheet-iron  outside,  against  the 
front  of  the  cabin.  Remaining  on  the  bottom  of 
the  boat,  where  they  could  not  be  seen  by  the 
enemy,   they   adjusted   and   secured   this   screen. 


END   OF   THE  AFFAIR   WITH   THE   FLAT       253 

Then  they  crawled  back  to  the  cabin-door,  and 
went  in. 

"Corporal  Drye,  tell  Seef  to  come  about  again, 
and  head  the  launch  directly  for  the  flat;  and  I 
will  tell  him  how  to  steer." 

Deck  heard  the  engineer  deliver  his  order  to 
the  helmsman,  and  then  closed  the  cabin-door. 
Moving  aft,  he  joined  the  engineer  when  the  boat 
had  come  about,  keeping  the  boiler  between  him- 
self and  the  enemy,  who  were  industriously  load- 
ing and  firing  their  muskets.  They  could  see 
no  one  on  board  of  the  Hipsy ;  for  Deck  had  in- 
sisted from  the  beginning  that  not  a  man  should 
show  his  head  above  the  rail,  which  non-nauti- 
cal readers  should  understand  means  the  upper 
part  of  the  sides  of  the  boat;  and  the  firing  had 
thus  far  hurt  no  one. 

"  Now  give  her  all  the  speed  you  can.  Cor- 
poral Drye,"  said  Deck  ;  and  the  engineer  threw 
more  coal  into  the  furnace. 

"  Starboard  a  little !  "  called  the  lieutenant  to 
the  pilot.     "  Steady  !  " 

The  last  word  meant  "  Keep  her  as  she  is  ;  " 
and  Seef  was  familiar  with  these  technical  words. 


254  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  see  what  you  are  driving  at,  Lieutenant," 
said  the  engineer  with  a  smile. 

"  All  right,  then  keep  her  moving ;  but  keep 
your  hand  near  the  safety-valve,  for  she  may 
come  to  a  sudden  halt,"  added  Deck. 

"  I  don't  believe  she  will,"  answered  Drye  de- 
cidedly ;  and  he  was  much  more  familiar  with 
steamboats  than  the  officer  in  command. 

All  the  ruffians  in  the  flat  had  boated  their 
oars,  and  were  using  their  muskets  diligently; 
and,  as  the  Hipsy  came  nearer  the  enemy,  the 
bullets  rattled  against  the  iron  screen  in  front 
of  the  cabin,  and  not  a  few  struck  the  boiler, 
but  fortunately  the  iron  of  both  was  strong 
enough  to  resist  them.  Without  the  precautions 
the  lieutenant  had  taken  to  protect  them,  cer- 
tainly one-half  of  the  party,  if  not  the  whole  of 
them,  would  have  been  killed  or  wounded. 

Neither  Deck  nor  Drye  was  disposed  to  talk 
any  more ;  though  they  were  not  dismayed  by  the 
rattle  of  the  bullets,  but  were  in  a  lively  state  of 
expectancy.  When  it  was  too  late,  the  ruffians 
seemed  to  come  to  a  realizing  sense  of  what  the 
officer  in  command  of  the  boat  intended  to  do ; 


END  OF  THE  AFFAIR  WITH  THE  FLAT   255 

and  they  seized  their  oars  in  desperation.  But 
some  of  them  pulled  one  way,  and  some  the  other, 
in  their  confusion  and  terror;  and  their  efforts 
tended  to  keep  the  flat  where  she  was,  rather  than 
take  her  out  of  the  impending  peril. 

The  engineer  had  all  the  steam  he  could  use, 
and  he  used  it  all.  The  screw  flew  around  as 
though  it  had  a  fit,  and  the  launch  darted  ahead 
with  the  active  current  as  though  it  was  in  full 
sympathy  with  Deck's  movement. 

"  Hold  on !  "  shouted  the  ruffian  in  the  stern 
of  the  boat  who  had  been  using  a  steering-oar. 
"  You  will  run  us  down !  " 

The  lieutenant  vouchsafed  no  reply  to  this  cry, 
and  a  moment  later  the  Hipsy  struck  the  flat  with 
her  sharp  bow ;  but  the  collision  did  not  stop  her, 
as  Deck  supposed  it  would,  but  cut  her  in  halves 
as  neatly  as  a  big  knife  could  have  done  it,  and 
passed  over  her,  leaving  the  parts  on  each  side 
of  her. 

One  man  climbed  into  the  launch  over  the  bow, 
but  the  others  were  all  thrown  into  the  water. 
The  Hipsy  continued  on  her  course  as  though 
nothing  had  happened,  while  the  escaping  steam 


256  ON   THE   STAFF 

hissed  and  roared  so  that  the  cries  of  the  ruf- 
fians in  the  river  could  scarcely  be  heard. 

"Come  about,  Seef !  "  called  the  lieutenant. 
"  You  can  stand  up  now,  for  there  is  no  danger ;  " 
and  the  contraband  stood  up  like  "  a  man  and 
a  brother." 

The  three  corporals  came  out  of  the  cabin, 
and  moved  aft.  Of  course  they  were  delighted 
with  the  result  of  the  affair. 

"Excuse  me  for  saying  so.  Lieutenant,  but 
you  managed  this  thing  mighty  well !  "  exclaimed 
Tilford. 

"  That's  so  !  "  added  Milton. 

"  So  say  we  all  of  us !  "  Corporal  Sandy  Lyon 
chimed  in. 

"  Thank  you ;  but  this  is  no  time  for  compli- 
ments," replied  Deck. 


IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  A  GREAT  COMMANDER      257 


CHAPTER   XX 

IN   THE   PRESENCE   OF   A   GREAT   COMMANDER 

The  soldiers  on  board  of  the  Hipsy,  with  the 
exception  of  Corporal  Drye  at  the  engine,  had  no 
idea  of  what  was  coming  till  the  launch  struck 
the  long  boat;  and  even  Seef,  who  was  steer- 
ing the  boat,  did  not  suspect  the  design  of  the 
lieutenant,  for  he  was  lying  on  his  back,  with  his 
head  against  the  after  stanchion  of  the  wheel. 
When  he  could  see  anything  outside  of  the  boat, 
it  was  over  the  stern. 

In  obedience  to  the  order  of  Deck,  the  helms- 
man had  brought  the  launch  about.  The  engi- 
neer had  let  off  steam  till  the  boat  ceased  to 
shake  and  tremble  as  though  she  were  going  to 
pieces.  Those  who  had  come  out  of  the  cabin 
were  looking  at  the  seven  ruffians  in  the  water; 
for  Deck  applied  this  term  to  them  because  they 
seemed  so  much  like  the  villains  who  had  at- 
tempted  to   mob  and  burn    the    mansion  of   his 


258  ON   THE   STAFF 

father,  and  with  whom  the  battle  of  Riverlawn 
had  been  fought. 

They  were  clinging  to  the  wreck  of  the  flat. 
Their  oars  were  floating  about  them,  and  doubt- 
less their  muskets  had  gone  to  the  bottom  of  the 
river.  They  were  evidently  alarmed  at  their  sit- 
uation, for  some  of  them  were  shouting  for  help. 
One  of  them  had  lost  his  hold  upon  the  wreck, 
and  was  struggling  in  the  water  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  others  as  though  he  could  not 
swim.  The  rest  of  them  did  not  go  to  his  assist- 
ance, and  possibly  none  of  them  could  swim. 

"Head  her  for  the  wreck,  Seef,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant as  soon  as  the  launch  had  been  brought 
about ;  for  after  it  had  passed  over  the  flat  the 
Hipsy  had  gone  some  two-  hundred  feet  while 
those  on  board  of  her  were  coming  to  a  realizing 
sense  of  what  had  occurred. 

"  Some  of  those  fellows  will  drown  if  we  don't 
pick  them  up  soon,"  said  Deck  as  he  stood  near 
the  engineer. 

"  Are  you  going  to  pick  them  up.  Lieutenant  ?  " 
asked  Corporal  Drye,  apparently  surprised  at  the 
remark  of  the  commander  of  the  expedition. 


IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  A  GREAT  COMMANDER      259 

"  Certainly  I  am ;  do  you  think  I  would  let 
them  drown  before  my  face  and  eyes  ?  "  replied 
Deck. 

"  They  are  all  Confederates,  and  ruffians  at 
that,"  added  the  engineer. 

"  No  matter  what  they  are ;  they  are  human 
beings." 

"  They  got  into  the  scrape,  and  I  should  let 
them  get  out  of  it  as  they  can,"  growled  Drye. 

"  Were  you  in  favor  of  letting  those  on  board 
of  the  New  Moon  burn  to  death  or  drown?" 

"  Well,  no ;   that  was  different." 

"  I  don't  see  that  it  was.  The  soldiers  on 
board  of  her  got  into  the  scrape  themselves,  and 
Captain  Batterson  might  as  well  have  said  that 
they  might  get  out  of  it  as  they  could,"  argued 
the  lieutenant.  "  He  did  not  say  so,  but  did  the 
utmost  he  could  to  save  every  man  in  peril ;  and 
we  did  the  same  in  the  Hipsy." 

"These  fellows  are  ruffians  and  villains,  and 
they  came  off  to  steal  the  launch  from  you." 

"Precisely  as  we  stole  the  Harbinger  from  the 
enemy." 

"  I   suppose   you  are  right.  Lieutenant  Lyon ; 


260  ON   THE   STAFF 

but  somehow  I  can't  look  at  these  ruffians  as 
regular  soldiers,  carrying  on  war  upon  Christian 
principles,"  added  the  corporal,  evidently  ashamed 
of  the  position  he  had  taken. 

"  They  are  not  regular  soldiers ;  but  I  cannot 
stand  by  and  see  seven  men  drown  before  my 
eyes.  I  am  afraid  I  should  have  bad  dreams  if  I 
did  such  a  thing,"  said  Deck,  as  the  boat  was 
approaching  the  scene  of  the  disaster. 

"  It  is  lucky  for  them  that  you  are  in  command. 
Lieutenant,"  replied  Drye,  relapsing  from  a  growl 
to  a  smile. 

"  Go  forward,  all  of  you,"  continued  Deck,  ad- 
dressing the  three  corporals  who  stood  in  the 
waist.  "Haul  in  those  men  as  fast  as  you  can, 
for  we  have  lost  time  enough  in  this  business." 

The  trio  of  corporals  obeyed  the  order,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  the  ruffians  were  dragged  into  the 
launch.  There  were  eight  of  them  now,  includ- 
ing the  one  who  had  climbed  into  the  launch  at 
the  time  of  the  collision. 

"  They  are  in  the  majority  now  on  board,  and 
they  may  try  again  to  capture  the  launch,"  sug- 
gested the  engineer  while  the  others  were  forward. 


IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  A  GREAT  COMMANDER      261 

"They  have  lost  their  muskets  in  the  smash, 
and  they  are  hardly  in  fighting  condition,"  replied 
Deck,  though  the  idea  made  an  impression  upon 
him. 

He  was  disabled  himself,  though  he  could  use 
his  revolver,  and  Seef  was  a  non-combatant:  the 
remaining  four  left  the  ruffians  two  to  their  one  ; 
and  even  without  arms  they  could  make  a  great 
deal  of  trouble.  But  all  the  corporals  were 
fully  armed,  and  brought  their  usual  weapons 
on  board. 

"  All  in  !  "  shouted  Tilford,  when  they  had 
rescued  all  the  party  from  their  moist  situation. 

"  Keep  them  where  they  are  !  "  returned  the 
lieutenant.  "  Now,  Seef,  head  the  boat  for  the 
Tennessee  shore ;  for  we  won't  spill  them  out  in 
Kentucky.     Do  you  know  a  good  landing-place?  " 

"I  can  see  the  mouth  of  the  creek  where  that 
flat  came  out,"  replied  the  helmsman ;  and  he 
threw  the  wheel  over,  and  directed  the  Hipsy  to 
the  point  he  indicated. 

"  Excuse  me,  Seef,  but  it  just  occurs  to  me  that 
you  have  not  been  to  breakfast  yet!  "  exclaimed 
Deck. 


262  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I'm  not  starving,  Mars'r,"  replied  the  pilot 
with  a  cheerful  grin. 

"  But  go  and  get  your  breakfast  at  once,  and  I 
will  steer  while  you  are  getting  it.  You  can  fire 
up  the  furnace  again,  and  cook  something  for 
yourself.  As  you  go  forward,  ask  Tilford  to  help 
you  return  the  furnace  stand  where  it  belongs, 
and  tell  the  corporal  I  wish  to  speak  to  him." 

The  lieutenant  took  the  wheel  with  his  right 
hand,  and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  opening  the 
contraband  had  pointed  out  to  him.  The  three 
men  forward  assisted  in  moving  the  screen,  and 
Tilford  presented  himself  at  the  wheel. 

"  Those  ruffians  number  two  to  our  one,  Cor- 
poral, and  three  of  you  must  watch  them  closely. 
Have  your  revolvers  ready  for  instant  use,"  said 
Deck. 

"  I  noticed  some  of  them  whispering  together," 
replied  the  veteran,  as  he  was  often  called  in 
his  company ;  not  that  he  had  been  longer  in  the 
service  than  some  of  them,  but  because  he  was 
an  older  man. 

"  Put  your  revolver  where  you  can  place  your 
hand   on  it   at   once,  and   tell   the  other  of   our 


IN  THE  PRESENCE  OE  A  GEEAT  COMMANDEE,      263 

men  to  do  the  same.  Now  go  back,  and  keep 
your  eyes  wide  open  tight  all  the  time." 

The  corporal  hastened  forward,  having  thrust 
his  revolver  into  his  belt.  His  companions  fol- 
lowed liis  example  at  a  sign  he  gave  them  ;  but 
he  called  them  back  into  the  space  between  the 
rail  and  the  cabin,  for  he  perceived  that  the 
weapons  were  in  a  convenient  position  to  be 
seized  by  the  prisoners  if  they  wished  to  attempt 
a  demonstration. 

Seef  did  not  delay  to  cook  bacon  and  eggs 
for  his  breakfast,  or  even  to  heat  up  the  coffee- 
pot, but  returned  to  the  wheel  with  part  of  his 
breakfast  in  his  hand.  He  took  the.  helm,  con- 
tinuing to  eat  till  he  had  finished  the  meal.  It 
was  not  a  great  distance  to  the  south  side  of 
the  river,  and  the  wheelman  soon  brought  her 
to  a  landing-place  in  the  creek.  Deck  went  for- 
ward where  he  could  see  the  ruffians  leave  the 
boat. 

But  they  did  not  appear  to  be  willing  to  go 
on  shore.  Milton  advanced  nearer  to  them,  tell- 
ing them  to  jump  ashore.  Suddenly  the  leader 
of    the  gang  sprang  upon   him,  and,  as    the  vet- 


264  ON  THE   STAFF 

eran  had  suggested,  attempted  to  get  hold  of  the 
revolver  in  his  belt.  He  found  he  had  tackled 
the  wrong  man ;  for  Milton  was  a  stalwart  fellow, 
and  hit  the  ruffian  a  blow  on  the  head  with  his 
fist  which  knocked  him  back  into  the  fore-sheets. 
The  rest  of  them  sprang  to  his  assistance  as  he 
advanced  again  ;  and  then  a  ball  from  Deck's 
revolver  dropped  him,  and  he  did  not  move 
again.  Milton  fired  at  the  next  man,  and  he 
joined  his  leader  in  the  bottom  of  the  launch. 

The  rest  of  them  were  intimidated  by  this 
quick  work,  and  fell  back. 

"  On  shore,  or  we  will  shoot  the  rest  of  you !  " 
shouted  Tilford. 

At  this  point  Seef  rushed  forward  with  the 
spare  tiller  in  his  hand,  and  wanted  to  take  part 
in  the  affray  ;  but  he  was  too  late  to  be  of  any 
service,  and  Milton  took  the  tiller  from  him,  and 
with  it  hastened  the  movements  of  the  conspir- 
atore,  knocking  them  on  the  head  or  the  shins 
as  was  most  convenient  to  him. 

But  the  ruffians  were  in  a  hurry  by  this  time, 
and  they  soon  tumbled  out  of  the  boat.  Milton 
and    the    others    lifted    the    two  who    had    fallen 


IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  A  GREAT  COMMANDER      265 

over  the  rail  without  knowing  whether  they  were 
dead  or  only  wounded.  Seef  had  hastened  to 
the  wheel  as  soon  as  he  saw  that  he  was  not 
needed;  but  he  had  proved  that  he  was  a  Union 
man  at  heart,  and  was  willing  to  assist  the  loyal 
soldiers. 

"  Back  her,  Drye !  "  called  Deck  to  him  as 
soon  as  he  had  grasped  the  spokes ;  and  the 
engineer  started  the  screw. 

The  launch  backed  away  from  the  shore,  and 
then  went  ahead  into  the  river  again.  The  course 
up-stream  was  renewed,  and  the  former  routine 
was  restored.  Long  as  it  has  taken  to  relate  the 
occurrences,  not  more  than  half  an  hour  had  been 
consumed  in  the  struggle.  Of  course  the  party 
felt  happy  in  the  fact  that  they  had  beaten  the 
enemy  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and  without  a 
wound  on  the  person  of  any  one  of  them.  Til- 
ford  seemed  to  like  the  bow  of  the  launch ;  and 
he  placed  himself  there  as  though  he  desired  to 
view  the  scenery,  consisting  most  of  the  time  of 
high  banks ;  but  Deck  instructed  him  to  keep  a 
sharp  lookout  for  enemies. 

The  others  gathered  in  the  standing-room,  and 


266  ON   THE   STAPF 

talked  over  the  exciting  events  of  the  morning. 
Doubtless  the  Hipsy  was  coveted  hy  many  who 
saw  her  from  the  shores  as  she  went  up  the  river, 
but  no  other  attempt  was  made  to  capture  her. 
At  noon  Milton  was  directed  to  take  the  wheel, 
and  Seef  went  forward  to  get  dinner. 

The  distance  in  a  straight  line  from  Barkville 
to  the  point  on  the  river  which  Deck  wished  to 
reach  was  not  more  than  thirty-five  miles  ;  but 
the  bends  in  the  stream  increased  it  to  over  fifty, 
and  the  objective  point  of  the  lieutenant  was 
nearly  reached  at  noon.  The  locality  was  more 
familiar  to  Deck  than  lower  down  ;  and  when  he 
passed  the  great  bend,  where  he  had  seen  four 
deserters  from  the  Confederate  army  drowned, 
and  where  Knox  and  himself  had  crossed  the 
stream  when  they  set  out  on  their  spy  trip  into 
Tennessee,  he  looked  for  old  Cuffy  the  ferryman, 
but  he  was  not  to  be  seen. 

"I  suppose  you  know  where  we  are,  Lieuten- 
ant Lyon,"  said  Milton. 

"I  think  I  do,"  replied  Deck. 

"  Yonder  is  the  mouth  of  Fishing  Creek,  and 
Mill  Springs  is  on  our  right,"  continued  Milton. 


IN  THE  PEESENCE  OF  A  GREAT  COMMANDER      267 

"  Dinner  is  all  ready,  gentlemen !  "  called  Seef 
from  the  waist,  where  he  did  the  cooking. 

"  Keep   it  hot  for   fifteen    minutes,   Seef,"    re- 
turned the  lieutenant. 

"  Now  you  can  see  the  mouth  of  Fishing  Creek 
very  plainly,"  said  the  wheelman. 

"  Perhaps  I  have  not  mentioned  it  before,  but 
we  are  bound  up  that  creek,"  said  Deck. 

"  Up  Fisliing  Creek  !  "  exclaimed  Milton. 

"  We  will  tie  up  at  the  mouth  of  it  for  dinner," 
added  the  lieutenant. 

At  the  place  indicated,  the  helmsman  ran  the 
bow  up  to  a  tree,  where  Tilford  made  fast  the 
painter  to  it.  All  hands  then  went  into  the  cabin 
for  dinner.  Beefsteak  was  the  principal  dish, 
and  it  was  very  tough ;  but  soldiers  were  trained 
to  use  their  jaws,  and  they  were  glad  enough 
to  get  beef  at  all,  and  they  did  not  complain. 
'With  potatoes,  coffee,  and  bread,  and  a  few  con- 
diments, it  was  a  better  dinner  than  had  been 
set  before  them  for  a  long  time. 

"How  deep  is  Fishing  Creek,  Corporal  Mil- 
ton ?  "  asked  Deck  when  the  party  had  taken  the 
rough  edge  off  their  hunger. 


268  ON   THE   STAFF 

"It  varies  from  four  feet  down  to  one." 

"How  far  up  can  you  take  the  Hipsy?" 

"  To  the  Hudson  Road.  But  you  have  not 
told  me  where  you  wish  to  go,  and  I  cannot 
tell  you  where  it  is  best  for  you  to  land,"  rephed 
Milton. 

"I  wish  to  go  to  Somerset,"  replied  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  Then  we  need  not  go  up  Fishing  Creek  at  all. 
If  you  go  up  that  stream,  you  will  have  to  walk 
about  twice  as  far  as  you  will  if  you  follow  the 
river  to  the  ford  on  the  Monticello  Road,  only  a 
mile  from  Somerset." 

"Then  we  will  go  to  the  ford ;  "  and  when  Til- 
ford  had  cast  off  the  painter  from  the  tree,  the 
launch  continued  a  mile  and  a  half  farther  up  the 
stream. 

At  the  ford  the  lieutenant  had  Seef  brush  his 
uniform,  and  hooked  on  his  sabre  at  the  belt. 
Corporal  Milton  was  appointed  to  go  with  him, 
and  they  walked  up  the  road  together.  In  half 
an  hour  the  staff-officer  stood  in  the  presence  of 
General  Thomas. 


ANOTHER   TRIP   UP   THE   CUMBERLAND       269 


CHAPTER   XXI 

ANOTHER   TRIP   UP   THE    CUIMBERLAND 

Lieutenant  Lyon's  staff  uniform  procured 
him  prompt  admission  to  the  presence  of  Gen- 
eral Thomas,  who  had  just  gained  the  battle  of 
Mill  Springs,  the  first  decided  victory  in  the 
West ;  he  was  then  a  brigadier-general,  and  he 
had  won  but  a  tithe  of  the  distinction  which 
awaited  him.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth ;  but 
he  belonged  to  the  whole  nation,  and  when  others 
forgot  it,  and  remembered  only  the  State  in 
which  they  were  born  or  resided,  he  was  a  man  of 
broader  views,  and  remained  faithful  in  the  ser- 
vice for  which  his  country  had  prepared  him. 

He  was  a  noble-looking  man,  tall,  and  with  a 
heavy  frame,  but  with  a  mild  and  pleasant  ex- 
pression on  his  face  which  won  the  hearts  of 
those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  as  it  did 
the  writer's  when  he  had  the  honor  to  be  pre- 
sented to  him  upon  the  platform  on  which  Gen- 


270  ON   THE   STAFF 

eral  Grant  had  just  been  inaugurated  President 
of  the  United  States.  At  the  same  time  he  was 
introduced  to  half  a  dozen  others  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished commanders  of  the  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. 

Thomas  was  the  beau-ideal  of  a  soldier,  and 
he  was  as  large  and  noble  in  his  soul  as  he  was 
in  his  splendid  physique ;  and  not  a  few  regarded 
him  as  the  ablest  military  commander  of  the  war, 
though  he  was  never  placed  in  the  position  to  di- 
rect the  movements  of  the  entire  army,  as  were 
Grant  and  McClellan. 

He  received  Lieutenant  Lyon  pleasantly,  but 
with  his  native  dignity ;  and  his  winning  smile 
was  on  his  face  when  he  took  the  papers  from 
General  Woodbine,  and  looked  in  the  eye  of  the 
young  man  who  delivered  them.  In  fact,  he  re- 
garded him  with  no  little  attention;  but  Deck 
had  schooled  himself  for  this  occasion,  and  was 
careful  that  he  displayed  his  form  at  his  full 
height,  and  kept  his  head  erect  as  a  soldier  should. 
But  he  was  modest  while  he  did  not  depreciate 
himself,  and  he  could  not  have  made  himself  look 
otherwise  if  he  had  tried. 


ANOTHER    TRIP    UP   THE    CUMBERLAND        271 

"  Lieutenant  Lyon,  I  think  was  the  name  an- 
nounced to  me,"  said  the  general,  after  he  had 
looked  over  the  bearer  of  despatches. 

"  Lieutenant  Lyon,  General,  a  messenger  from 
General  Woodbine,  whose  despatches  I  have  just 
delivered,"  replied  Deck,  with  liis  most  graceful 
bow. 

"  He  is  down  the  river  now.  I  suppose  you 
found  the  roads  still  very  muddy  on  your  ride 
here.  Lieutenant,"  added  the  commander,  as  he 
pointed  to  a  camp-stool  for  the  messenger,  and 
seated  himself  upon  another. 

"  I  did  not  come  by  the  roads,  but  by  the 
river,"  replied  Deck,  as  he  seated  himself  after 
the  commander  had  done  so. 

"By  the  river?"  repeated  the  general  inter- 
rogatively, and  not  with  an  exclamation.  "  Have 
you  steamers  at  your  camp  on  the  river?" 

"  We  have  one,  a  rather  large  one,  and  we  de- 
stroyed one  the  other  day ;  but  I  made  my  trip 
in  a  steam-launch,  which  is  now  at  the  ford  on 
the  Monticello  Road." 

"  But  where  did  you  get  your  steam-launch  ?  " 

"  It  was  taken  from  a   spy  who   was  using  it 


272  ON  THE   STAFF 

to  convey  information  to  the  enemy,"  answered 
the  messenger. 

"  Had  you  any  difficulty  in  making  your  way 
up  the  river  ?  " 

"  A  little ;  a  gang  of  nine  ruffians  from  the 
Tennessee  side  attacked  us  not  far  from  Baker's 
Town,"  replied  Deck;  and  he  related  the  result 
of  the  affair. 

"  You  made  short  work  with  them,"  added  the 
general  with  a  smile.  "  How  many  men  had 
you,  Lieutenant  ?  " 

"I  had  four  corporals,  and  a  colored  man  who 
is  the  servant  of  the  spy  now  in  the  jail." 

"  They  were  two  to  your  one,  then." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  I  could  not  stop  to  bother  with 
them,  and  made  an  end  of  the  business  in  a  hurry. 
We  picked  up  the  men  when  their  boat  was  cut 
in  halves,  and  landed  them  in  their  own  State. 
They  made  another  fight  when  we  landed  them, 
and  we  were  obliged  to  shoot  a  couple  of  them." 

"  I  have  heard  of  you  before.  Lieutenant  Lyon ; 
and  Woodbine  told  me  about  your  affair  with  a 
company  of  Confederate  cavalry  who  wanted  one 
of  our  trains.     I  am  glad  to  see  you.     You  be- 


ANOTHER   TRIP   UP   THE   CUMBERLAND        273 

long  to  the  Riverlawn  Cavalry,  who  have  rendered 
important  service  in  suppressing  guerillas  and 
other  foragers.  Now,  if  you  will  amuse  yourself 
for  half  an  hour,  I  will  look  at  your  despatches, 
and  write  a  letter  to  Woodbine." 

Deck  bowed ;  and  the  commander  called  a  lieu- 
tenant on  his  staff,  and  introduced  the  messenger 
to  hira.  They  left  the  tent  together,  and  were 
soon  well  acquainted.  Lieutenant  Blood  pointed 
out  to  him  some  of  the  localities  of  the  late  battle 
that  were  in  sight ;  but  he  did  it  mechanically, 
as  though  it  were  an  old  story  to  him. 

"  Didn't  I  hear  you  say  something  about  a 
steam-launch  to  the  general,  in  which  you  came 
up  the  river.  Lieutenant  ? "  asked  the  officer. 

"  I  spoke  of  such  a  boat ;  and  I  came  up  the 
river  in  the  Hipsy,  as  she  is  called." 

"  Where  is  the  Hipsy  now  ?  "  he  inquired  with 
more  interest  than  he  had  spoken  before. 

Deck  told  him  where  she  was ;  and  Lieutenant 
Blood  pointed  to  half  a  dozen  horses  saddled  and 
bridled,  and  picketed  near  the  headquarters  for 
use  as  needed.  He  proposed  to  ride  down  to  the 
river,  for  he  desired  very  much  to  see  the  launch. 


274  ON   THE   STAFF 

They  galloped  down  the  road,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  reached  the  river.  The  four  corporals 
were  on  shore  ;  and,  giving  the  reins  to  them,  they 
boarded  the  boat,  and  Deck  showed  the  officer 
over  her. 

"  I  have  a  steam-launch  of  about  that  size  at 
Louisville  where  I  live  ;  and  that  accounts  for 
my  interest  in  the  Hipsy.  But  it  is  time  for  us 
to  return,"  said  Lieutenant  Blood ;  and  they  were 
soon  at  the  headquarters. 

When  they  went  to  the  general's  tent  they 
found  him  walking  up  and  down  in  deep  thought. 
But  he  had  finished  his  letter,  and  handed  it  to 
the  messenger. 

"  I  want  to  see  General  Woodbine  more  than 
I  can  explain  to  you,  Lieutenant  Lyon,  and  you 
must  bring  him  to  headquarters  in  your  steam- 
launch  ;  for  that  is  a  good  way  to  get  about  in  this 
country  while  the  roads  are  in  such  bad  condi- 
tion," said  General  Thomas. 

"I  am  at  General  Woodbine's  orders,"  replied 
Deck.  "  I  will  take  my  leave  now,  if  you  have 
no  further  instructions  to  give  me." 

"  None  ;   I  am  very  glad  to  have  seen  you,  and 


ANOTHER    TRIP    UP   THE   CUMBERLAND        275 

we  may  meet  again,"  added  the  commander,  bow- 
ing him  out. 

Lieutenant  Blood  put  him  and  Corporal  Milton 
on  a  couple  of  horses,  and  rode  with  them  to  the 
river,  though  the  latter  modestly  kept  behind 
them.  Deck  shook  hands  with  the  officer,  and 
they  embarked  at  once,  their  horses  let  loose  to 
find  the  way  back  to  the  camp.  Tilford  hauled 
in  the  painter,  the  Hipsy  backed  away  from  the 
shore,  came  about,  and  began  her  voyage  down 
the  river  with  Milton  at  the  wheel.  It  was  half- 
past  two  by  Deck's  watch;  and  if  the  trip  was 
not  interrupted  as  it  was  in  coming  up,  he  ex- 
pected to  make  the  distance  in  about  six  hours. 

Fortunately  no  ruffians  appeared  to  intercept 
them ;  Seef  was  in  charge  of  the  engine,  and 
was  instructed  to  make  his  best  time.  He  did 
so,  and  the  Hipsy  came  alongside  the  Harbinger 
a  few  minutes  past  eight.  Deck  hastened  to  the 
general's  headquarters  without  the  loss  of  a 
moment,  and  delivered  the  letter  of  which  he 
was  the  bearer. 

"  You  made  a  quick  trip.  Lieutenant,"  said 
the  general,  after  he  had  read  the  letter. 


276  ON   THE   STAFF 

"Not  so  quick  as  it  would  have  been  by  half 
an  hour  if  we  had  not  been  attacked  on  the  river," 
replied  Deck;  and  he  was  obliged  to  repeat  the 
story  of  the  encounter  with  the  ruffians,  to  which 
the  commander  listened  with  the  deepest  interest. 

"You  were  very  prompt  and  decided  with 
them,  Lieutenant,  as  you  always  are;  and  served 
them  right,  for  they  were  nothing  but  bush- 
whackers, and  wanted  the  launch  for  guerilla 
raids  on  this  side  of  the  river.  You  have  done 
good  service,  and  I  thank  you  for  it,"  said  Gen- 
eral Woodbine,  inviting  him  to  be  seated.  "  Now, 
Lieutenant  Lyon,  I  want  you  to  repeat  the  trip 
at  once,  with  me  as  your  passenger." 

"I  obey  your  orders,  whatever  they  are,  Gen- 
eral,"   replied    Deck.       "  When    do    we    start  ?  " 

"  About  one  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  you 
had  better  go  to  bed  now,  and  get  all  the  sleep 
you  can.  The  doctor  is  coming  this  evening  to 
see  your  arm.  Who  shall  go  with  you  this 
time  ?  " 

"Seef  and  the  same  four  corporals,"  replied 
Deck;  and  he  retired  to  his  room,  and  put  him- 
self between  the  sheets. 


ANOTHER  TRIP  UP  THE  CUMBERLAND   277 

The  commander  then  sent  Finch  to  the  door 
to  call  in  two  of  the  mounted  sentinels  there, 
who  presently  came  into  the  office.  He  directed 
one  of  them  to  ride  to  the  Harbinger,  and  order 
Lieutenant  Knox  to  retain  Seef  and  the  four  cor- 
porals on  board  of  the  steamer,  send  them  to  bed 
at  once,  and  have  them  in  readiness  for  service 
at  one  in  the  morning. 

Then  he  sent  the  other  to  the  hospital  to  in- 
form Dr.  Farnwright  that  Deck  was  ready  to  see 
him,  and  then  to  find  the  man  who  kept  the  tin- 
and-stove  shop,  and  require  his  presence  at  head- 
quarters immediately.  Deck  was  tired  after  his 
day's  work,  for  he  was  not  as  tough  as  he  would 
be  when  fully  grown ;  and  he  dropped  asleep  as 
soon  as  he  struck  the  bed,  but  Finch  awoke  him 
when  the  doctor  came.  After  a  little  chat,  the 
surgeon  examined  his  arm,  and  dressed  the  wound 
again.  He  said  it  was  doing  finely,  and  evidently 
had  not  been  disturbed  during  the  day. 

"  I  have  not  used  my  left  arm  at  all,  and 
steered  the  launch  with  the  right  alone,"  said 
Deck. 

"  Very  well ;  and  if  you  are  as  careful  as  you 


278  ON   THE   STAFF 

have  been,  your  arm  will  be  all  right  in  less  than 
a  week,"  added  Dr.  Farnwright,  taking  leave  of 
his  patient,  who  turned  over  and  went  to  sleep 
again. 

Then  the  surgeon  looked  in  at  the  office,  and 
saw  Pottle,  the  tin  and  sheet-iron  worker,  there. 
He  had  just  come;  and  the  general  was  describ- 
ing the  furnace  stand  of  the  launch  to  him,  used 
as  a  screen  to  keep  the  bullets  of  the  enemy 
from  penetrating  the  woodwork  of  the  cabin. 

"  I  want  three  of  them,  made  of  the  thickest 
sheet-iron  you  have,"  added  the  commander. 

"I  have  the  thickest  there  is  made,"  replied 
Pottle. 

"  Have  you  any  workmen  in  your  employ  ?  " 

"I  have  three  men  that  I  call  in  when  I  need 
them ;  but  there  is  not  business  enough  for  me 
to  keep  them  all  the  time,"  replied   the  tinman. 

"Drum  them  up  immediately,  and  as  many 
carpenters  to  make  the  frames,"  said  the  com- 
mander rather  impatiently.  "•  I  must  have  these 
screens  by  midnight." 

Pottle  promised  that  they  should  be  ready  and 
on  board  of  the  Harbinger  at  the  time  designated. 


ANOTHER   TRIP   UP   THE  CUMBERLAND       279 

He  hurried  away,  wondering  what  great  enter- 
prise was  now  engaging  the  attention  of  the 
commander,  who  went  to  his  chamber  as  soon 
as  the  man  left. 

Probably  he  did  not  sleep  as  soundly  as  the 
lieutenant  on  the  lower  floor  of  the  house. 
Whether  he  did  or  not.  Finch  called  both  of  the 
sleepers  at  half-past  twelve.  Horses  and  a  guard 
were  at  the  door  waiting  for  them,  and  in  fifteen 
minutes  they  were  on  the  deck  of  the  Harbinger. 
The  screens  were  there,  and  so  were  Seef  and  the 
four  corporals.  Knox  had  caused  the  Hipsy  to 
be  hauled  alongside  the  forecastle ;  and  the  three 
screens,  which  were  larger  than  that  for  the  fur- 
nace, were  placed  around  the  cabin,  though  they 
could  be  moved  to  more  exposed  points  if  needed. 

Seef  had  procured  the  provisions  and  supplies 
for  the  trip,  as  Knox  had  directed  him.  The 
general  asked  Lieutenant  Lyon  if  they  had  not 
better  take  more  men,  but  Deck  thought  they 
would  only  be  in  the  way.  The  commander 
delivered  a  letter  to  Lieutenant  Knox  for  Major 
Lyon,  in  which  the  command  of  the  force  was 
passed  over  to  him  during  his  absence. 


280  ON   THE   STAFF 

Promptly  at  the  appointed  time,  the  launch 
backed  away  from  the  steamer,  and  then  pointed 
her  bow  up  the  river,  with  Seef  at  the  engine,  and 
Milton  at  the  wheel,  the  latter  being  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  river  than  any  other  person  on 
board.  The  general  went  into  the  cabin,  which 
Seef  had  lighted,  and  lay  down  in  one  of  the 
berths;  and  the  lieutenant  did  the  same  in  the 
other.  They  had  six  hours  before  them  in  which 
they  could  do  nothing  better  than  sleep. 

"  I  telegraphed  to  the  general  that  I  should  be 
at  the  ford  at  seven  o'clock  to-morrow  morning," 
said  the  commander.  "  They  are  keeping  the 
wires  in  order,  and  I  think  he  will  get  the  mes- 
sage." 

They  went  to  sleep  to  the  music  of  the  thump- 
ing screw.  The  three  corporals  not  employed 
stretched  themselves  on  the  cushions  of  the  divan 
in  the  standing-room,  covered  themselves  with 
the  blankets  brought  from  the  state-rooms  of  the 
Harbinger,  and  went  to  sleep.  The  pilot  had 
nothing  to  do  but  keep  the  Hipsy  in  the  middle 
of  the  river. 

Seef,  as  he  had  been  instructed,  kept  the  boat 


ANOTHER  TRIP   UP  THE   CUMBERLAND       281 

going  at  her  usual  rate  till  daylight  in  the  morn- 
ing, occasionally  talking  with  the  pilot.  A  little 
later,  Seef  declared  that  there  were  a  lot  of  men 
and  horses  at  the  ford,  which  he  could  see  half  a 
mile  ahead.  Milton  called  the  sleepers  near  him, 
and  asked  Tilford  to  wake  those  in  the  cabin. 
Deck  looked  at  his  watch,  and  saw  that  it  was 
quarter  of  seven,  and  an  escort  was  waiting  for 
the  general  at  the  landing-place. 


282  ON  THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXII 

DECK   FINDS    THE   RIVER    BLOCKADED 

General  Woodbine  was  received  at  the  ford 
by  the  officer  commanding  the  escort,  and  con- 
ducted to  the  headquartei'S  of  General  Thomas; 
and  of  course  Lieutenant  Lyon  accompanied  him. 
After  breakfast  came  the  conference  between  the 
superior  officers,  and  Lieutenant  Blood  took  Deck 
in  charge  again.  He  was  on  the  staff  of  the  com- 
manding general,  and  probably  he  knew  more 
about  the  intended  movements  of  the  army  than 
Deck ;  but  he  was  quite  as  discreet  as  that  young 
officer,  and  he  had  no  news  to  tell  beyond  what 
was  current  in  the  army. 

But  it  was  no  secret  that  an  attempt  would 
be  made  to  break  the  line  of  defence  the  Confed- 
erates had  established  through  the  length  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  iron-clad  gunboats  of  Commodore 
Foote  were  at  Cairo ;  and  some  of  them  had  made 
a  reconnaissance  up  the  Tennessee  River,  and  had 


DECK   FINDS   THE  EIVER   BLOCKADED         283 

obtained  the  bearings  of  Fort  Henry,  which  was 
the  first  of  the  enemy's  works  east  of  Columbus 
and  Hickman  on  the  Mississippi  River.  The 
next  was  Fort  Donelson  on  the  Cumberland,  and 
then  Bowling  Green.  The  fortifications  in  the 
vicinity  of  Mill  Springs  had  been  rendered  useless 
by  the  defeat  and  dispersion  of  General  George 
B.  Crittenden,  who  should  not  be  confounded 
with  Thomas  L.,  the  Union  general. 

It  was  understood  that  this  line  of  defence 
should  be  still  further  broken  at  the  two  strong 
forts  upon  which  the  enemy  relied  to  hold  the 
West,  and  there  was  floating  in  the  air  of  the 
various  camps  a  rumor  of  stirring  military  events 
in  the  near  future.  Deck  Lyon  had  the  impres- 
sion that  the  visit  of  General  Woodbine  to  Somer- 
set had  something  to  do  with  a  general  moving 
of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  though  he  had  no  idea 
of  its  nature. 

After  breakfast  the  two  generals  were  alone 
at  the  headquarters  of  General  Thomas,  and  they 
talked  about  matters  that  were  not  understood 
outside  of  the  tent  of  the  commander.  They 
were  friends  of  long  standing,  and  had  been  stu- 


284  ON   THE   STAFF 

dents  at  West  Point  together;  but  Thomas  had 
remained  in  the  army,  while  Woodbine,  after 
creditable  service  in  Mexico,  had  resigned,  and 
made  a  considerable  fortune  in  New  York,  and 
then  settled  in  Eastern  Kentucky,  where  he  had 
become  one  of  the  influential  men  of  the  section. 

"  Woodbine,  I  can't  stand  it  any  longer  to 
leave  you  in  command  of  such  an  inadequate 
force  as  you  have  at  present,"  said  General 
Thomas,  with  the  pleasant  smile  playing  about 
his  mouth.  "  You  are  competent  for  bigger 
things ;  and  I  cannot  forget  your  good  work  in 
the  battles  at  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista,  and 
you  must  have  your  sphere  enlarged." 

"  I  obey  orders,  as  I  •  always  did,"  replied 
Woodbine. 

"  You  accepted  your  commission  at  the  eleventh 
hour;  but  it  is  absurd  for  a  brigadier-general  to 
remain  in  command  of  three  companies  of  cav- 
alry and  a  battery,"  added  Thomas ;  and  as  in- 
timate friends  they  dropped  their  titles  when 
alone. 

"But  I  respectfully  submit  that  my  small 
command  has  rendered  good  service  since  its  or- 


DECK   FINDS   THE   EIVER    BLOCKADED         285 

ganization.  The  fact  is  that  I  am  not  ambitious 
for  military  distinction ;  and  nothing  but  a  war 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  which  I  be- 
lieve in  with  all  my  mind,  heart,  and  soul,  would 
have  drawn  me  away  from  my  mountain  home." 
"  I  know  you  are  a  patriot  of  the  highest 
order,  Woodbine ;  and  the  service  you  have  ren- 
dered on  the  river,  as  well  as  at  Mill  Springs, 
is  important,  and  I  have  commended  you  prop- 
erly in  my  reports,"  replied  Thomas.  "  But  I 
must  give  you  a  full  brigade;  for  my  conscience 
will  not  permit  me  to  allow  you  to  waste  your 
talent  in  petty  affairs.  We  are  on  the  eve  of 
important  operations,  and  you  must  not  hide  your 
light  beneath  a  bushel." 

"  A  farthing  candle  !  "  exclaimed  Woodbine. 
"You  may  depreciate  yourself,  but  I  cannot." 
"I  am  very  well  satisfied  with  my  command." 
"  Perhaps  you  are,  but  I  am  not.     I  shall  not 
be  satisfied  till  you  are  in  the  position  to  which 
your  present   rank,  concealed    for  months  before 
you  accepted  your  commission,  entitles  you.    Gen- 
eral Buell  is  still  engaged  in  organizing  the  Army 
of  the  Ohio;  and  I  am  not  yet  prepared  to  state 


286  ON   THE    STAFF 

what  your  command  will  be,  though  I  think  I 
know  where  you  are  most  needed.  By  the  way, 
you  have  made  a  pet  of  that  squadron  of  Ken- 
tucky cavalry  which  came  into  the  service  with 
"a  local  name." 

"  The  Riverlawn  Cavalry,  after  the  name  of 
the  plantation  owned  by  the  major  in  command," 
replied  Woodbine,  manifesting  more  interest  than 
he  had  before  displayed.  "  That  squadron  has 
been  busily  employed  since  the  command  was 
mustered  in.  They  have  nearly  cleaned  out  the 
guerillas  and  foragers  in  this  part  of  the  State, 
and  saved  a  vast  amount  of  property  from  being 
carried  over  to  the  enemy." 

"  I  know  something  about  this  squadron," 
added  Thomas.  "  A  portion  of  it  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  smart  young  fellow  saved  a  long  train 
of  supplies  the  enemy  needed  even  more  than 
we  did." 

"That  young  fellow  came  up  to  see  you  yes- 
terday as  my  messenger." 

"Lieutenant  Lyons  !   Was  he  the  one?" 

"  He  was  ;  I  have  frequently  commended  him 
in  my  reports.     Though   he  did   not   make    him- 


DECK    FINDS    THE   RIVER    BLOCKADED         287 

self  conspicuous  in  the  fights  with  the  steamers, 
he  did  more  than  any  other  single  person  to  bring 
about  the  capture  and  destruction  of  the  enemy's 
river  craft.  He  is  only  eighteen,  but  he  is  a  vet- 
eran in  his  judgment." 

"  He  must  be  promoted,"  added  Thomas. 

"  He  was  made  a  first  lieutenant  when  he  came 
upon  my  staff,  and  he  had  better  not  be  promoted 
again  so  soon." 

"  Just  as  you  say.  Woodbine ;  but  I  will  try  to 
remember  him." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  will  be  reminded  of  him 
as  soon  as  active  operations  are  resumed. " 

"  You  may  return  to  your  command,  but  you 
must  be  prepared  for  a  better  position  than  you 
have  now.  I  am  in  communication  with  General 
Buell,  and  I  shall  send  j^ou  orders  as  soon  as 
possible.  It  is  now  the  first  of  February,  and 
something  will  be  done  very  soon." 

"If  I  am  to  have  a  brigade,  I  only  hope, 
though  I  do  not  ask  it,  that  the  Riverlawn  Cav- 
alry will  be  attached  to  it;  and  Batterson's  bat- 
tery is  a  very  efficient  one,"  added  Woodbine 
with  a  smile. 


288  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  I  shall  do  the  best  I  can  for  you." 

Then  the  subject  of  the  two  hundred  prisoners 
that  General  Woodbine  held  at  Barkville  was  con- 
sidered. General  Buell  had  already  ordered  them 
to  be  sent  to  the  prison  camp  near  Chicago  as  soon 
as  it  could  be  ascertained  that  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  Railroad  was  open  to  the  Ohio. 

"  I  mentioned  Thornfield  in  my  report ;  what 
shall  be  done  with  him?"  asked  General  Wood- 
bine. 

"  I  should  hardly  regard  him  as  a  spy,  and  you 
may  send  him  off  with  the  other  prisoners  of 
war,"  replied  the  superior. 

They  talked  all  the  forenoon,  and  then  dined 
together,  while  Deck  was  cared  for  in  the  mess 
of  the  staff.  General  Thomas  rode  down  to  the 
river  with  his  guest  after  the  meal,  and  saw  him 
embark  for  the  return. 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  be  fired  into  by  the 
guerillas  who  want  that  launch,  "  said  General 
Thomas,  as  the  boat  shoved  off. 

"  The  craft  is  an  ironclad,"  replied  General 
Woodbine,  pointing  to  the  screens  that  sheltered 
the  cabin, 


DECK    FINDS    THE    RIVER    BLOCKADED         289 

"  They  may  have  seen  the  launch  coming  up 
the  river,  and  may  be  on  the  lookout  for  its  re- 
turn." 

"  We  came  up  in  the  night,  and  they  would 
not  have  been  likely  to  see  her." 

"  They  are  birds  of  the  night,  and  I  advise 
you  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout,"  added  General 
Thomas,  as  he  waved  his  adieus  to  his  friend. 

"Have  you  been  to  dinner,  all  hands?"  asked 
the  general  as  the  Hipsy  moved  down  the  river. 

"  We  have.  General,  and  are  in  good  condi- 
tion for  anything,"  replied  Milton,  who  had 
known  the  commander  before  he  joined  the 
RiverlaAvns. 

It  was  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
when  the  launch  got  under  way  at  the  ford. 
For  four  hours  she  continued  on  her  course 
without  interruption ;  but  just  as  it  was  begin- 
ning to  grow  dark.  Corporal  Tilford,  who  smoked 
his  pipe  in  the  bow  most  of  the  time,  shouted 
that  there  was  something  like  a  boat  in  the 
middle  of  the  stream. 

Deck  hastened  forward  to  ascertain  what  the 
object  was,  taking   his    field-glass    from   its    case 


290  ON  THE   STAFF 

as  he  did  so.  He  brought  the  instrument  to 
bear  upon  the  boat,  if  it  was  one,  though  it  did 
not  look  like  one  to  him  as  seen  with  the  naked 
eye. 

"Where  are  we  now.  Lieutenant?"  inquired 
the  general,  joining  him  in  the  bow. 

"  Off  Rock  House,  Seef  said  it  was  yester- 
day ;  just  where  we  had  the  fight,"  replied 
Deck. 

"  Probably  the  same  ruffians  that  wanted  the 
launch  yesterday  want  it  to-day,"  added  the 
commander.  "  Can  you  make  out  what  the  craft 
is?" 

"It  looks  more  like  a  large  raft  than  a  boat 
of  any  kind,"  replied  the  lieutenant  after  he  had 
examined  the  object  with  the  glass.  "  It  is  an- 
chored in  the  middle  of  the  river;  and  there  is  a 
flat  alongside  of  it,  with  which  it  was  probably 
towed  out  from  the  Tennessee  shore.  There  is 
something  on  this  end  of  the  raft  which  I  can- 
not make  out  yet.  In  the  middle  of  the  thing 
there  is  a  breastwork  of  logs,  and  whatever  men 
there  may  be  on  the  raft  are  behind  this  wall  of 
wood." 


DECK   FINDS   THE   EIYER   BLOCKADED         291 

The  Hipsy  continued  on  her  course,  with  the 
eyes  of  all  hands  fixed  upon  this  obstruction  to 
the  passage  of  the  boat,  for  which  it  had  evi- 
dently been  moored  in  its  present  position.  But 
it  was  still  half  a  mile  distant;  and  the  affair 
could  not  yet  be  clearly  defined,  though  there  was 
light  enough  for  that  purpose. 

"I  hardly  expected  any  interruption  to  our 
voyage ;  though  I  know  that  the  woods  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  are  full  of  men,  looking 
more  for  plunder  than  to  serve  the  Confederacy," 
said  the  general  after  the  lapse  of  several  min- 
utes. 

"Now  I  make  out  the  black  thing  I  saw  be- 
fore, and  I  am  satisfied  it  is  an  iron  cannon, 
which  the  blockheads  have  placed  on  this  end  of 
the  raft  instead  of  behind  the  breastwork ;  but 
their  stupidity  makes  it  all  the  better  for  us," 
added  Deck  when  he  had  made  out  the  gun. 

"We  are  hardly  in  condition  to  face  artillery," 
suggested  the  commander.  "  But  I  leave  you  to 
manage  the  affair.  Lieutenant  Lyon.  Perhaps 
you  had  better  run  back  a  mile  or  two,  and  wait 
till  it  is  dark  enough  to  pass  it." 


292  ON   THE   STAFF 

"  I  don't  like  the  idea  of  running  away  from 
these  bushwhackers,"  replied  Deck,  with  a  good 
deal  of  contempt  in  his  tones.  "If  you  leave 
the  matter  to  me,  I  shall  go  ahead  till  I  know 
more  about  the  situation.  We  have  no  idea  how 
many  men  there  are  behind  that  breastwork." 

The  Hipsy  went  ahead  a  few  minutes  longer, 
when  the  stillness  of  the  evening  hour  was 
interrupted  by  a  peal  from  the  gun  on  the 
raft. 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  Deck,  as  the  ball  struck 
the  water  at  least  an  eighth  of  a  mile  from  the 
launch.  "  If  that's  the  sort  of  gunners  they 
have  we  may  go  on  our  way  without  minding 
them." 

"  They  may  do  better  next  time,"  added  the 
general  quietly.  "  They  have  some  way  to  dis- 
charge the  gun  from  behind  the  logs.  Besides, 
they  did  not  aim  the  piece  at  all." 

Possibly  the  ruffians  were  ashamed  of  their 
bad  practice  with  the  big  gun,  and  they  opened 
upon  the  launch  with  muskets ;  but  with  these 
they  did  no  better,  and  not  more  than  half  a 
dozen  shots  were  fired,  all  of  which  fell  short  of 


DECK   FINDS   THE   EIVER   BLOCKADED        293 

the  boat.  They  soon  fired  again,  and  this  time 
only  six  discharges  could  be  counted. 

"It  is  the  same  gang  that  attacked  the  launch 
yesterday,  or  rather  what  there  are  left  of  them," 
was  the  deduction  Deck  drew  from  the  facts. 
"  Now,  General  Woodbine,  if  you  will  oblige  me 
by  taking  a  seat  in  the  cabin,  I  will  soon  make 
an  end  of  this  business." 

"  Take  a  seat  in  the  cabin  !  "  exclaimed  the 
commander,  laughing.  "  In  the  iron-clad  cabin  I 
Do  you  think.  I  am  a  poltroon  to  run  away  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy  ?  You  ought  to  know  me 
better,  Lieutenant !  " 

"A  general  officer  is  not  expected  to  expose 
himself  unnecessarily  in  a  battle,  General ;  be- 
sides, your  life  is  of  more  importance  than  those 
of  all  the  rest  us,"  replied  Deck  very  deci- 
dedly ;  but  he  could  not  induce  the  commander 
to  accept  his  advice. 

The  lieutenant  called  all  hands  except  Seef  to 
the  bow  of  the  boat,  with  their  carbines  and  re- 
volvers. 

"  Hurry  her  up,  Corporal  Drye  !  Head  her  for 
the  raft,  Seef !  "  excitedly  shouted  Deck ;  and  he 


294  ON   THE   STAFF 

saw  that  liis  men  in  the  bow  were  safely  crouch- 
ing on  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 

The  enemy  continued  to  fire  their  muskets, 
but  they  could  not  come  out  from  their  shelter 
to  load  the  cannon  again,  Seef  was  protected 
from  the  bullets  by  the  boiler,  as  was  the  en- 
gineer. The  result  of  the  ordei-s  given  was  to 
drive  the  bow  of  the  Hipsy  into  the  raft,  where 
she  penetrated  far  enough  to  hold  her  in  posi- 
tion. 


RESULT   OF   THE   FIGHT   ON  THE   RAFT      295 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

THE    RESULT    OF   THE    FIGHT    ON   THE   RAFT 

The  ruffians  behind  the  breastwork  on  the  raft 
could  not  be  seen  from  the  Hipsy,  where  the  men 
were  concealing  themselves  below  the  gunwale ; 
and  even  General  Woodbine  had  been  reasonable 
enough  to  go  into  the  cabin,  which  was  protected 
by  the  screens  he  had  caused  to  be  made  for  the 
purpose.  It  was  useless  for  the  troopers  to  fire 
their  carbines,  and  Lieutenant  Lyon  did  not  order 
them  to  do  so. 

"Have  your  sabres  in  hand,  and  your  revol- 
vers ready  to  use  with  the  left  hand,"  said  Deck, 
as  the  launch  approached  the  raft.  "  Leap  on  the 
raft,  and  then  over  the  breastwork  !  " 

"We  will  be  there!  "  replied  Milton. 

Corporal  Drye,  who  had  the  engine,  had  placed 
his  sabre  within  reach,  and  his  revolver  in  the 
left  of  his  belt;  for  he  heard  the  order  of  the 
lieutenant.     Deck  had  looked  over  the  gunwale, 


296  ON   THE   STAFF 

and  had  obtained  some  idea  of  the  construction 
of  the  raft.  It  consisted  of  several  logs  placed 
lengthwise  upon  a  number  of  shorter  ones.  The 
ruffians  had  evidently  depended  upon  the  iron 
cannon  to  do  their  work  for  them,  and  had  not 
taken  into  account  the  frailty  of  the  craft  upon 
which  they  made  the  venture. 

If  the  raft  had  been  well  constructed  and  the 
defence  well  managed,  it  would  have  been  a  for- 
midable adversary  for  the  Hipsy;  but  the  lieu- 
tenant could  not  help  wondering  at  the  amazing 
stupidity  of  the  ruffians  in  placing  the  gun  where 
they  could  not  use  it  after  the  first  shot  without 
exposing  themselves  to  the  carbines  of  the  cav- 
alrymen. They  probably  relied  upon  the  iron 
cannon  to  do  all  the  work  for  them  at  a  single 
discharge,  without  considering  that  they  were  not 
gunners.  If  the  shot  from  the  ancient  piece  had 
struck  the  hull  of  the  launch,  it  might  have  ac- 
complished all  they  expected  of  it;  but  it  had 
come  nowhere  near  the  boat. 

Corporal  Drye  had  driven  the  Hipsy  at  full 
speed ;  and  she  had  inserted  her  sharp  bow  be- 
tween a  couple  of  the  long  logs,  and  spread  them 


RESULT   OF   THE   FIGHT   ON   THE   RAFT      297 

far  apart,  so  that  she  went  a  third  of  her  length 
into  the  frail  structure.  The  engineer  stopped 
the  engine,  and  opened  the  safety-valve  when 
she  had  gone  as  far  as  she  could,  and  then  seized 
his  sabre. 

"  Now  board  her !  "  cried  Deck,  as  he  con- 
trived by  stepping  from  a  box  upon  the  rail,  and 
then  upon  the  deranged  logs,  to  be  the  first  one 
on  the  raft. 

The  ruffians  had  just  discharged  their  mus- 
kets as  the  Hipsy  came  within  twenty  feet  of  the 
breastwork;  but  the  men  were  not  seen,  and  the 
shots  were  wasted,  as  all  the  others  had  been. 
The  ruffians  were  reloading  their  muskets  when 
the  launch  struck  the  raft.  With  his  injured 
arm  Deck  could  not  climb  over  the  breast  of  logs 
as  his  men  did ;  but  he  heard  the  clash  of  the 
sabres  and  the  reports   of  the  revolvers. 

Looking  for  a  way  to  place  himself  on  the 
other  side  of  the  log  fence,  he  sheathed  his 
sabre,  and  found  a  point  at  the  end  of  the  de- 
fence to  work  his  body  around  it,  though  liis 
disabled  arm  had  nearly  caused  him  to  fall  over- 
board.    But   the   fight  was  nearly  finished  when 


298  ON   THE   STAFF 

he  reached  the  scene  of  the  encounter.  He  had 
an  opportunity  to  strike  a  single  blow  at  one  of 
the  ruffians  that  came  at  him  with  a  clubbed 
musket,  and  dropped  him  on  a  couple  of  others 
who  had  fallen. 

General  Woodbine  left  the  cabin  as  soon  as  he 
heard  the  order  to  board,  and  appeared  on  the 
raft  with  his  revolver  in  his  hand,  while  Deck 
was  working  around  the  end  of  the  breastwork ; 
but  he  was  too  late  to  use  his  weapon,  and  did 
not  understand  the  plan  of  the  lieutenant.  The 
fight  behind  the  logs  had  lasted  hardly  more 
than  a  minute  after  the  combatants  came  to  close 
quarters ;  for  the  ruffians  were  practically  power- 
less asfainst  the  sabres  in  the  hands  of  the  well- 
trained  troopers. 

As  soon  as  Deck  had  disposed  of  the  only  one 
of  them  that  confronted  him,  he  looked  about 
him.  Not  one  of  the  enemy  was  on  his  feet. 
In  the  faces  of  the  dead  and  wounded  he  recog- 
nized some  of  the  men  whom  they  had  seen  the 
day  before,  and  found  that  he  had  correctly  es- 
timated the  number  from  the  shots  they  had 
fired.     He  was   just   beginning  to  work  his  way 


The  fight  behind  the  logs  lasted  hardly  more  than  a 

minute." 

Page  298. 


RESULT   OF   THE   FIGHT   ON  THE   EAFT      299 

back  around  the  breastwork  when  Corporal  Mil- 
ton, calling  for  the  assistance  of  his  companions, 
tumbled  the  logs  down ;  and  he  walked  over  a 
cleared  space  made  for  him,  for  half  the  mate- 
rial had  been  thrown  into  the  river. 

"  You  have  done  your  work  with  desperate 
haste,  Lieutenant,"  said  the  commander,  as  they 
met  at  the  side  of  the  iron  gun. 

"  We  had  no  time  to  dawdle  over  the  matter," 
replied  Deck,  as  he  wiped  liis  sabre  with  a 
paper  which  had  doubtless  been  brought  off  for 
wadding  for  the  gun.  "  In  a  case  like  this  dis- 
cipline wins  the  day,  and  enables  us  to  do  our 
work  quickly." 

"  I  had  no  idea  that  the  affair  would  be  so 
soon  over,"  added  the  general.  "  What  is  the 
condition  of  the  enemy  ?  " 

"  They  are  in  no  condition  at  all ;  for  two  of 
them,  I  judge,  are  dead,  and  the  other  four  are 
wounded  and  disabled,"  replied  Deck.  "Milton, 
just  bouse  that  iron  gun  into  the  river,"  he 
added,  as  he  saw  the  men  gathered  near  him. 
"  That  piece  shall  not  be  used  again  against  the 
soldiers  of  the  Union." 


300  ON   THE   STAFF 

The  troopers  rolled  the  naval  carriage  on 
which  the  gun  was  mounted  to  the  edge  of  the 
raft,  and  dumped  it  into  the  water  with  a  tre- 
mendous splash.  The  lieutenant  then  directed 
the  men  to  shove  the  Hipsy  out  of  the  aper- 
ture she  had  made  in  the  logs,  which  was  not 
very  easily  done,  for  she  had  wedged  herself  very 
tightly  into  her  position.  But  with  some  poles 
they  found  on  the  raft,  it  was  pried  out,  and 
brought  alongside. 

"What  next?"  queried  the  general,  with  a 
smile  that  could  hardly  be  discerned  in  the  gath- 
ering gloom  of  the  hour,  for  he  seemed  to  be 
pleased  with  something. 

"  I  think  I  have  completed  the  work  you  gave 
me  to  do  when  you  directed  me  to  manage  this 
affair,  and  I  am  ready  for  further  orders,"  an- 
swered Deck,  saluting  the  commander  from  the 
force  of  habit. 

"  You  may  keep  on  managing  till  we  are 
alongside  the  Harbinger,"  returned  the  general. 

His  first  order  was  for  his  men  to  convey 
the  four  wounded  ruffians  to  the  waist  of  the 
launch ;    but    the    commander   declared    that   he 


RESULT   OF   THE   FIGHT   ON    THE   RAFT      301 

should  not  use  the  cabin  any  more,  and  that 
he  put  them  in  it,  which  was  done.  Deck  then 
found  a  couple  of  rocks  which  had  been  used  to 
block  a  log  on  the  raft  behind  the  gun-carriage, 
and  then  ordered  Corporal  Drye,  who  was  more 
of  a  sailor  than  any  of  the  rest  of  them,  to 
make  them  fast  to  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and 
cast  them  into  the  river. 

"We  can't  spend  the  time  to  take  them  on 
shore  and  bury  them,"  he  said  to  the  commander, 
as  he  gave  the  order. 

"In  ordinary  times  it  would  not  be  allowable 
to  throw  the  dead  into  the  river;  but  you  will 
moor  them  on  the  bottom,  where  they  can  do 
no  harm,"  replied  the  general,  as  he  went  on 
board  of  the  launch,  and  seated  himself  in  the 
standing-room. 

"Have  you  a  hatchet,  Seef?"  asked  Deck,  as 
he  followed  the  general  officer. 

"I  have  a  shingling-hatchet,  Mars'r,"  replied 
the  contraband,  as  he  brought  it  from  the  waist. 

The  boat  was  then  swung  round  till  it  was 
beside  the  forward  end  of  the  raft,  when  Deck 
handed  the  hatchet  to  Milton,  and  told  him  to 


302  ON   THE   STAFF 

chop  off  the  cable  of  the  floating  fort.  It  was 
done,  and  the  current  started  it  down  the  river. 

"  What's  that  for,  Lieutenant  ? "  asked  the 
commander. 

"  So  that  we  need  not  run  over  the  raft  if 
we  should  happen  to  come  up  the  river  again 
in  the  Harbinger  or  the  Hipsy,"  replied  Deck, 
as  he  seated  himself  by  the  side  of  the  general. 

"  You  are  very  thoughtful  for  a  young  man," 
added  the  commander. 

By  eight  o'clock  the  launch  was  alongside  the 
Harbinger,  on  whose  forecastle  a  lantern  was 
hung  up,  while  the  general's  escort  was  on  the 
beach ;  for  since  the  lieutenant's  cap  had  received 
a  bullet  through  it,  it  was  not  considered  pru- 
dent for  officers  to  go  about  the  town  in  the 
evening  unattended. 

Lieutenant  Knox  saluted  the  general  as  the 
boat  came  alongside  the  steamer,  and  was  or- 
dered to  send  eight  of  his  men  on  board  of  the 
Hipsy.  When  they  came,  the  four  wounded  ruf- 
fians were  moved  to  the  deck  of  the  steamer, 
and  Knox  was  directed  to  send  them  to  the 
prisoners'  hospital. 


RESULT   OF   THE   FIGHT   ON   THE   EAFT      303 

"  You  have  had  a  scrimmage,  Lieutenant  ? " 
said  Life,  as  he  assisted  Deck  to  mount  to  the 
deck. 

"A  little  skirmish,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  still 
careful,  about  the  Kentuckian's  English.  "  But 
I  have  not  time  to  tell  you  about  it  now." 

,The  general  directed  Knox  to  send  a  sergeant 
with  the  wounded  ruffians,  with  an  explanation  to 
Dr.  Farnwright  that  the  men  had  been  wounded 
in  an  attack  upon  the  Hipsy  up  the  river.  The 
horses  of  the  commander  and  the  lieutenant  were 
on  the  beach,  and  they  mounted  at  once ;  and 
by  this  time  Deck  had  practised  enough  to  be 
able  to  mount  his  steed  readily  on  the  wrong 
side,  and  Ceph  was  not  disposed  to  do  as  a 
cow  will  sometimes  when  milked  on  what  would 
be  the  proper  side  to  mount  a  horse,  —  kick  the 
milker  over. 

They  were  expected  at  headquarters ;  and  sup- 
per was  all  ready  for  them,  though  they  were 
rather  late.  The  negro  cook  gave  them  very 
nice  fried  chicken  and  white  corncake,  and  they 
were  in  excellent  condition  to  enjoy  the  meal. 
Lieutenant  Herndon  was  at  the  table ;  and  Deck 


304  ON   THE   STAFF 

told  him  about  the  encounter  with  the  raft,  and 
the  result  of  the  affair.  Later  in  the  evening 
the  surgeon  called  to  see  his  patient,  afraid  that 
he  might  have  been  injured  in  the  affair  the 
sergeant  reported  to  him. 

"  One  of  those  wounded  fellows  died  before 
he  reached  the  hospital,  and  another  is  not  likely 
to  live  till  morning,  for  both  of  them  were  dis- 
abled by  sabre-thrusts  in  the  chest,"  reported 
the  doctor.  "Let  me  see  your  arm,  Lieutenant 
Lyon." 

"It  is  all  right.  Doctor;  for  I  have  been  as 
careful  of  it  as  though  I  had  been  in  my  room 
all  day,"  replied  Deck,  as  he  led  the  way  to  his 
chamber  in  the  rear  of  the  office. 

The  splint  had  prevented  the  officer  from  bend- 
ing his  arm  or  twisting  it;  and  the  surgeon  de- 
clared that  it  was  a  lovely  wound,  healthy,  and 
progressing  rapidly.  He  was  anxious  about  some 
of  his  worst  cases,  and  hastened  back  to  the  hos- 
pital. Deck  slept  soundly  that  night  after  the 
excitement  of  the  day.  The  next  morning  he 
felt  that  his  strength  had  been  entirely  restored ; 
and  he  was  better  than  he  had  been  before  since 


RESULT   OF   THE   FIGHT   ON   THE  RAFT      305 

he  received  his  wound,  which  had  weakened  him 
by  the  loss  of  so  much  of  his  young  blood. 

No  more  foraging  steamei"S  came  up  the  river, 
for  the  fate  of  the  Harbinger  and  the  New  Moon 
had  been  made  known  as  far  down  the  river  as 
Nashville.  It  was  therefore  a  quiet  time  for  the 
four  companies  stationed  at  Barkville ;  and  the 
farmers  and  planters  in  the  country  around  were 
glad  to  have  them  there,  for  guerillas  and  fora- 
gers from  both  sides  of  the  river  deemed  it  pru- 
dent to  keep  their  distance  from  the  counties 
nearest  to  the  camp. 

A  few  days  after  the  return  of  General  Wood- 
bine from  his  visit  to  General  Thomas,  events 
began  to  move  more  rapidly.  The  railroads  and 
the  telegraphs,  which  are  among  the  mightiest 
engines  of  modern  warfare,  had  been  repaired, 
and  restored  to  the  use  of  the  army  in  all  por- 
tions of  the  State  not  actually  occupied  by  the 
enemy,  which  comprised  not  more  than  one-tenth 
of  its  territory  at  that  time. 

"  We  are  on  the  eve  of  important  events," 
said  the  general,  seated  in  his  office  with  his  two 
aids.  "  You  will  not  be  compelled  to  rust  in 
inactivity  much  longer." 


306  ON  THE   STAFF 

"Speed  the  time!"  exclaimed  Herndon,  who 
was  more  impatient  than  his  fellow-officer  on  the 
staff ;  but  he  had  taken  no  part  in  the  steamer 
work  which  had  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
latter  a  small  portion  of  the  time,  and  he  was 
not  nursing  a  wound. 

"  I  have  the  idea,  from  what  little  I  can  see 
in  the  horizon,  that  the  situation  in  this  part 
of  the  country  will  be  essentially  changed  within 
a  month,"  added  the  general.  "  I  have  been  ex- 
pecting that  we  should  be  ordered  to  join  an 
army  for  the  conquest  of  East  Tennessee,  where 
the  people  are  loyal  to  a  considerable  extent,  if 
the  Union  sentiment  is  not  in  the  majority." 

"Telegram,  sir!"  said  Finch,  entering  the  office 
before  the  commander  could  finish  what  he  had 
to  say. 

It  was  an  order  from  General  Thomas  to  send 
the  two  hundred  prisoners,  more  or  less,  to  Glas- 
gow, under  proper  escort,  and  ship  them  there  for 
Louisville.  Orders  were  sent  at  once  to  Major 
Lyon  to  have  his  squadron  in  the  town  square, 
at  seven  the  next  morning,  ready  for  a  long 
march  and  two  days'  absence  from  the  camp. 


BEGINNING   OF   THE   GEEAT   MOVEMENT      307 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  GREAT  MOVEMENT 

A  BRANCH  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville 
Railroad  had  been  extended  into  Barren  County 
as  far  as  Glasgow,  thirty  miles  from  Barkville ; 
and  this  was  the  route  by  wliich  the  prisoners 
were  to  be  sent.  The  Riverlawn  squadron  were 
in  the  square  at  the  appointed  hour,  and  the 
horses  were  in  excellent  condition  after  the  vaca- 
tion. Perhaps  the  Confederates  were  glad  of  a 
change ;  though  probably  they  were  not,  for  they 
had  been  well  fed,  and  lodged  in  some  disused 
tobacco  factories. 

They  were  formed  in  the  square,  and  with 
about  two  hundred  mounted  -  troopers  around 
them  they  were  entirely  tractable,  and  made  no 
complaint ;  but  the  writer  has  heard  Confederate 
soldiers  who  had  been  confined  at  the  prison- 
camp  to  which  these  men  were  to  be  sent,  com- 
plain bitterly  of   the    food   served  out  to  them. 


308  ON   THE   STAFF 

Upon  inquiry  the  objectionable  articles  of  diet 
proved  to  be  salt  fish  and  baked  beans. 

Southerners  were  not  accustomed  to  such  food, 
which  are  staple  articles  in  the  bill  of  fare  of 
prison-camps  and  all  large  gatherings  in  the 
North;  but  the  prisoners  of  Andersonville  would 
have  fared  royally  on  an  abundant  diet  of  this 
description.  General  Woodbine  was  present  to 
witness  the  departure.  Thornfield  and  other 
civilians  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  raid  were 
brought  out,  and  placed  in  the  ranks.  The 
planter  hailed  the  general  as  he  rode  near  him, 
and  without  leaving  his  place  began  to  voice 
his  complaint  in  a  loud  tone. 

"  General  Woodbine,  I  protest  against  being 
sent  North  as  a  prisoner  of  war !  "   shouted  he. 

"That's  all  right;  you  can  protest  as  much  as 
you  please  if  that  does  you  any  good,  but  don't 
make  too  much  noise  about  it,  or  the  sergeant 
will  feel  obliged  to  put  a  gag  in  your  mouth," 
replied  the  commander  very  pleasantly. 

"  I  am  not  a  soldier,  but  a  civilian  !  "  contin- 
ued the  planter,  stepping  out  of  the  ranks,  and 
approaching  the  general. 


BEGINNING   OF   THE   GREAT  MOVEMENT      309 

"  The  government  has  a  crowd  of  civilians  in 
Fort  Lafayette  near  New  York.  Mr.  Thornfield, 
I  am  disposed  to  extend  to  you  any  consideration 
within  the  line  of  my  duty,"  the  commander  con- 
tinued more  seriously.  "  In  your  steam-launch 
you  conveyed  information  to  the  enemy  down  the 
river  that  a  considerable  quantity  of  supplies  had 
arrived,  and  had  been  stored  in  this  place  for 
the  use  of  my  command,  in  consequence  of  which 
a  steamer  was  sent  here  armed  and  manned  for 
the  purpose  of  capturing  them.  Not  only  this, 
but  you  made  signals  to  assist  the  Harbinger  in 
approaching  the  town.  I  was  disposed  to  regard 
you  as  spy,  but  my  superior  officer  took  a  differ- 
ent view  of  the  matter;  and  you  may  thank  him 
that  you  escaped  a  drum-head  court-martial,  which 
would  doubtless  have  condemned  you  to  be  hung 
or  shot.  I  don't  care  to  hear  anything  more  from 
you,  for  the  facts  are  patent  to  us  all.  If  you 
think  as  a  citizen  of  Kentucky  you  have  the  right 
to  assist  the  enemy  in  fighting  the  battles  of  the 
Confederacy,  I  can  only  add  that  you  are  very 
much  mistaken,"  said  the  general,  as  he  rode 
away  from  the  spot ;  and  a  sergeant  drove  Thorn- 
field  back  to  his  place. 


310  ON   THE   STAFF 

The  column  started  on  the  march  with  a  file  of 
Riverlawns  on  each  side  of  the  prisoners,  the 
great  body  of  them  being  in  the  front  and  rear. 
Seef,  who  had  been  absent  over  two  days  from 
the  plantation  of  his  master,  had  slept  on  board 
of  the  Hipsy,  and  came  up  to  the  square  in  the 
morning  after  he  had  been  waked  from  his  slum- 
bers by  the  movements  of  the  troop ;  but  when 
he  saw  the  prisoners  paraded  in  the  square,  he 
was  careful  to  keep  out  of   sight  of  his  master. 

"  What  are  they  going  to  do  with  Mars'r 
Thornfield,  Mars'r  Lieutenant?"  he  asked  when 
he  discovered  Deck,  who  had  come  rather  late 
to  witness  the  leaving  of  the  prisoners. 

"  He  is  to  be  sent  away  with  the  rest  of  them," 
replied  the  officer. 

"Where  are  they  going,  Mars'r?"  inquired 
the  contraband,  looking  very  sad ;  for  there  could 
be  no  doubt  that  he  was  very  much  attached  to 
his  owner. 

"  They  will  be  sent  to  a  prison-camp  near 
Chicago." 

"May  I  speak  to  him  before  he  goes,  Mars'r?" 
he  asked. 


BEGINNING   OP   THE   GREAT   MOVEMENT      311 

*'  Yes  ;  "  and  Deck  rode  with  him  to  the  col- 
umn, and  the  sergeant  permitted  the  prisoner  to 
walk  between  the  platoons  of  the  company  with 
his  servant. 

Mr.  Thornfield  could  not  contain  the  indig- 
nation he  felt  at  what  he  insisted  upon  calling 
the  unjust  treatment  to  which  he  was  subjected ; 
and  he  vented  it  very  earnestly  to  his  servant, 
till  the  sergeant  advised  him  to  speak  in  a  lower 
tone.  Seef's  master  was  not  aware  that  his  over- 
seer had  been  in  the  service  of  the  Federals  for 
two  days,  or  it  might  have  changed  the  course 
of  his  remarks. 

The  procession  departed ;  and  Seef  walked  all 
the  way  with  it  to  Paces,  on  the  Marrow  Bone 
Road.  The  planter  tried  to  obtain  permission  to 
visit  his  family  under  guard  before  he  was  hur- 
ried away,  but  it  could  not  be  granted  without 
halting  the  column  and  delaying  the  march  ; 
but  the  faithful  Seef  ran  ahead  for  more  than 
a  mile,  as  the  planter's  house  was  near  the  road, 
and  had  the  family  at  a  point  where  they  could 
see  liim. 

Major  Lyon  saw  the  wife  and  children  as  he 


312  ON   THE   STAFF 

rode  by  them,  and  understood  that  they  were 
the  family  of  the  prisoner;  and  a  few  minutes 
later  he  ordered  a  halt  for  rest,  which  enabled 
the  last  adieus  to  be  spoken.  It  was  an  affect- 
ing scene,  and  the  soldiers  of  both  armies  looked 
on  in  respectful  silence.  Fifteen  minutes  were 
given  to  them,  and  then  the  column  resumed 
the  march.  Seef  went  home  with  his  mistress 
and  the  children ;  and  they  had  so  much  to 
think  of  that  he  was  not  asked  where  he  had 
been  the  last  two  days. 

The  Riverlawns  marched  to  Glasgow  the  first 
day,  though  it  was  a  long  march  for  the  prison- 
ers, and  returned  the  next  day.  The  surgeon 
reported  that  day  that  the  patient  who  had  been 
wounded  on  the  raft  had  died,  and  that  all  the 
rest  of  the  occupants  of  the  hospital  were  doing 
well.  Only  three  days  later  a  telegram  came 
from  General  Thomas,  then  in  command  of  the 
first  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio:  "Move 
your  entire  force  to  Somerset,  by  road  or  river." 

General  Woodbine  had  expected  an  order  to 
move  very  soon;  but  he  believed  it  would  be  to 
Munfordville,  or  some   other  point  to  the   north. 


BEGINNING   OP  THE   GREAT   MOVEMENT      313 

It  was  evident  that  the  army  was  concentrating 
for  a  movement,  though  in  what  direction  he 
could  form  no  idea  ;  but  he  did  not  lose  a  mo- 
ment in  preparing  to  obey  the  order.  All  the 
steamboat  men  in  the  force  were  in  demand ;  and 
Deck  was  required  to  see  that  the  Harbinger 
was  put  in  order  for  the  trip,  and  that  the  sup- 
plies in  store  in  the  town  were  loaded  into  her. 

The  service  of  the  men  who  had  been  em- 
ployed on  Green  River  made  them  valuable 
assistants  at  this  time.  Drye  and  Beckland  were 
appointed  engineers,  and  were  required  to  put 
the  engines  in  good  order.  The  people  of  the 
town  assisted  all  they  could,  but  they  could  not 
find  a  pilot  for  the  river  up  to  the  Monticello 
Ford ;  for  those  who  had  been  employed  on  the 
Harbinger  and  New  Moon  were  believed  to  be 
Secessionists,  and  had  been  sent  North  with  the 
other  prisoners. 

General  Woodbine  gave  the  order  for  the 
movement  to  begin  the  next  morning  at  nine 
o'clock.  The  cavalry  companies  had  been  kept 
full,  and  there  were  always  applicants  for  en- 
listment   waiting    to    get    into    these    commands. 


314  ON   THE   STAFF 

There  were  about  four  hundred  men,  besides  the 
usual  number  of  camp  retainers ;  and  this  num- 
ber with  their  horses,  the  light  battery  with  its 
guns  and  caissons,  required  a  large  amount  of 
space ;  and  Lieutenant  Lyon  decided,  as  soon  as 
he  considered  the  matter,  that  the  Harbinger 
could  not  carry  them  all  at  a  single  trip,  and 
he  reported  accordingly  to  the  commander. 

"  Make  two  trips  of  it,  then.  Lieutenant," 
promptly  replied  the  general.  "  Let  the  River- 
lawn  Cavalry  be  sent  up  by  the  first  boat,  and 
the  Marions  and  the  battery  by  the  second." 

"  This  will  make  some  delay,"  suggested  Deck. 

"I  was  not  ordered  to  make  any  special  haste, 
though  I  make  it  a  business  to  execute  all  my 
orders  promptly,"  replied  the  general.  "  But  I 
do  not  see  that  the  delay  can  be  prevented." 

"•  Perhaps  it  can.  General,"  suggested  the  staff- 
officer. 

"  In  what  manner  ? "  asked  the  commander 
curiously,  as  he  looked  with  interest  into  the 
face  of  his  young  companion,  who  had  often 
proved  himself  to  be  fertile  in  expedients. 

"  It   is    now   hardly    ten    o'clock    in    the    fore- 


BEGINNING    OF   THE   GREAT   MOVEMENT      315 

noon,"  said  Deck,  consulting  his  watch.  "  If  you 
give  Major  Lyon  the  order  to  break  camp  at 
once,  and  march  to  the  levee,  the  first  boat  can 
leave  by  one  o'clock,  if  not  sooner,  and  reach 
the  ford  early  in  the  evening.  The  Harbinger 
can  return  in  the  night,  and  be  ready  for  the 
next  trip  to-morrow  morning." 

"  Lieutenant  Herndon  !  "  called  the  commander. 

"  He  is  in  his  room.  General,"  replied  Finch, 
who  was  in  the  hall. 

"Call  him." 

He  appeared  a  minute  later. 

"Carry  my  order  to  Major  Lyon  at  the  camp 
to  break  camp  immediately,  move  the  wagon-train 
to  the  levee,  and  march  there  with  his  squadron 
of  Riverlawns.  The  Marions  and  the  battery- 
will  remain  where  they  are,"  said  the  general 
hastily ;  and  the  staff-officer  saw  that  he  was 
in  a  hurry. 

Herndon  went  out  of  the  house,  mounted  his 
horse,  which  was  at  the  door,  and  galloped  up 
the  road  outside  of  the  long  hill.  The  squadron 
had  been  trained  to  celerity  in  its  movements, 
and  the  assembly  was  vigorously  sounded  a  mo- 


316  ON  THE   STAFF 

ment  after  the  arrival  of  the  lieutenant.  The 
major  did  not  pause  to  ask  any  questions  —  he 
never  did;  and  Herndon  could  not  have  answered 
them  if  he  had,  for  he  had  been  wondering  him- 
self what  was  going  on. 

Deck  mounted  his  horse,  and  hastened  to  the 
steamer  to  see  that  she  was  ready  for  immediate 
service.  The  engineers  were  on  board ;  and  Ser- 
geant Sluder  had  been  appointed  pilot,  with  the 
assistance  of  Seef,  who  was  familiar  with  tho 
river,  though  he  had  sailed  only  the  launch  upon 
its  waters,  and  she  was  of  much  lighter  draft 
than  the  Harbinger. 

Not  an  hour  had  elapsed  before  the  wagon- 
train  was  on  the  levee,  each  drawn  by  eight 
mules ;  for  these  animals  had  been  exceedingly 
abundant  after  General  Crittenden  had  abandoned 
hundreds  of  them  at  Beechwood  Camp.  Lieu- 
tenant Knox  superintended  the  embarkation  of 
the  wagons,  and  had  extended  lines  where  the 
troopers'  horses  were  to  be  picketed  on  the  deck. 
He  had  hardly  disposed  of  them  before  the  squad- 
ron arrived. 

The    commander   came    with    them,  to   satisfy 


BEGINNING   OF   THE   GREAT   MOVEMENT      317 

himself  that  his  orders  had  been  faithfully  exe- 
cuted. As  soon  as  it  was  noised  over  the  town 
that  a  movement  of  the  troops  was  in  progress, 
about  all  the  inhabitants  gathered  on  the  levee. 
Of  course  they  asked  a  great  many  questions 
of  the  cavalrymen  as  they  were  waiting  to  go 
on  board  of  the  steamer ;  but  they  were  as 
little  informed  as  the  people  themselves.  The 
men  marched  up  the  gang-plank  by  fours,  picketed 
their  horses,  and  were  then  sent  up  to  the 
saloon. 

Deck  had  directed  Knox  to  have  dinner  cooked 
for  the  men  on  board,  to  avoid  delay.  The  negro 
cooks,  waiters,  and  firemen  had  remained  on  duty ; 
for  they  had  nowhere  to  go,  and  were  far  away 
from  their  homes,  —  those  who  had  them  "  down 
in  Tennessee."  The  troops  had  saved  the  town 
from  being  looted  by  the  enemy,  and  they  had 
the  kindliest  feeling  towards  them.  They  brought 
a  great  quantity  of  cake,  and  such  other  eatables 
as  they  happened  to  have  on  hand ;  and  the 
men  were  likely  to  live  in  clover  on  their  short 
voyage. 

"You  must  go  with  them.  Lieutenant  Lyon," 


318  ON   THE   STAFF 

said  the  commander,  when  all  was  ready  for  the 
departure  of  the  Plarbinger,  and  a  hundred  things 
had  been  done  which  could  not  be  mentioned. 

Deck  was  ready  to  obey  the  order,  and  only 
asked  if  he  should  return  in  the  boat,  which  he 
was  required  to  do,  and  was  told  that  he  could 
sleep  all  the  afternoon  and  all  night  if  he  was 
so  minded. 

"Then  you  are  all  going  to  leave  us.  General 
Woodbine,"  said  the  chairman  of  the  town  coun- 
cil, putting  in  a  late  appearance. 

"  Not  all  to-day,  but  the  rest  will  leave  to- 
morrow," answered  the  commander.  "  We  are 
under  orders  to  march;  but  I  am  glad  we  have 
been  able  to  save  your  town  and  its  vicinity  from 
what  might  have  been  a  very  ugly  raid." 

"  We  are  sorry  to  have  you  go,  for  you  have 
been  the  strong  arm  of  the  nation  to  us,"  added 
the  chairman,  as  the  general  made  a  signal  to 
Deck,  who  was  on  the  hurricane  deck  near  the 
pilot-house. 

"  Let  her  slide,  Sergeant  Sluder !  "  called  the 
lieutenant.  "  Back  out  from  the  levee,  and  head 
her  up  the  river !  " 


BEGINNING   OF   THE   GREAT   MOVEMENT      319 

Seef  came  to  the  town  every  day  to  learn  the 
news  for  his  mistress ;  and  Deck  had  pressed  him 
into  the  service  again,  though  he  was  willing 
enough  to  go  with  the  steamer.  Lieutenant 
Lyon  was  in  command  of  the  Harbinger;  and 
before  the  boat  had  backed  five  rods  there  was 
a  cry  on  shore,  and  he  saw  the  general  waving 
his  cap  energetically  at  him. 

"  Stop  her,  Sluder !  "  shouted  Deck  to  the 
pilot. 


320  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXV 

THE   FIGHT    AT    CUFFY'S    FERKY 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Sergeant  Sluder  ? " 
asked  Lieutenant  Lyon,  as  he  entered  the  pilot- 
house. 

"  I  saw  a  stir  in  the  crowd  on  shore,  but  I 
could  not  make  out  what  it  meant,"  replied  the 
sergeant.  "  I  see  there  is  a  jflat  coming  off  from 
the  shore." 

Deck  went  to  the  edge  of  the  deck,  and  dis- 
covered the  boat,  which  contained  no  less  a  per- 
sonage than  the  chairman  of  the  town  council, 
and  which  was  paddled  by  a  negro.  He  hastened 
to  the  lower  deck  to  receive  the  distinguished 
gentleman,  who  came  alongside  a  moment  later. 

"  General  Woodbine  requested  me  to  send  this 
telegram  off  to  you,  and  I  have  brought  it  my- 
self," said  the  chairman,  handing  up  an  envelope. 
"It  was  addressed  to  me,  and  you  can  see  that 
it  is  important," 


THE   FIGHT   AT   CUFFY'S    FERRY  321 

Deck  took  the  despatch  from  its  cover,  and 
read  it.  It  was  very  brief,  like  most  messages 
that  went  by  wire :  "  Enemy  crossing  river  at 
Cuffy's  Ferry."  It  was  signed  "  Hickman." 
Deck  knew  Colonel  Hickman  of  Grove  Hill,  and 
concluded  at  once  that  it  was  not  a  trick  of  the 
enemy.  If  it  had  been,  the  writer  would  have 
been  likely  to  send  the  force  in  the  other  di- 
rection. 

"  This  was  plainly  intended  to  be  given  to  the 
general,"  suggested  the  lieutenant,  when  he  had 
read  the  message. 

"I  have  shown  it  to  him,  as  I  said,  and  he 
asked  me  to  send  it  off  to  you ;  and  he  added 
that  you  would  know  what  to  do  with  it,"  an- 
swered the  chairman. 

"All  right;  tell  him,  if  you  please,  that  I 
consider  that  last  remark  from  him  equivalent 
to  an  order,"  added  Deck. 

He  looked  towards  the  shore,  and  discovered 
the  commander  seated  upon  his  horee  on  the 
levee.  He  had  drawn  his  sword,  not  for  action, 
but  simply  to  use  as  a  pointer;  and  he  flourished 
it    vigorously  in   the    direction  of   up   the    river. 


322  ON   THE   STAFF 

This  was  enough  for  the  young  officer;  and  he 
interpreted  the  signal  as  a  command  to  hurry  up 
the  stream  on  his  way  to  Cuffy's  Ferry,  for  the 
old  negro's  occupation  had  given  this  name  to 
the  locality. 

"  Back  her,  Sergeant  Sluder  !  "  shouted  Deck 
at  the  top  of  his  lungs ;  for  he  was  at  a  consid- 
erahle  distance  from  the  pilot-house. 

The  engine-bells  struck,  the  wheels  began  to 
turn  back  in  obedience  to  the  order,  and  Deck 
felt  very  much  like  the  captain  of  a  steamboat 
just  then.  The  officers  of  the  Riverlawn  battal- 
ion were  all  on  board  of  the  Harbinger.  The 
major  and  the  two  captains,  and  even  the  two 
first  lieutenants,  ranked  him,  or  were  his  su- 
periors ;  but  Deck  was  a  staff-officer,  with  direct 
orders  from  the  general  in  command,  and  there- 
fore could  assume  the  superiority  if  necessary. 

For  the  first  time  since  he  entered  the  service, 
he  was  the  acting  superior  of  his  father  and  his 
former  captain;  but  he  did  not  feel  at  home  in 
this  position,  and  he  promptly  decided  not  to  as- 
sume command  over  his  father,  for  it  was  abso- 
lutely repugnant  for  him  to  give  an  order  to  him. 


THE    FIGHT    AT    CUFFY'S   FERRY  323 

"  Head  her  up  the  river,  Sergeant  'Sluder !  " 
he  shouted  to  the  pilot. 

The  steamer  came  about,  and  proceeded  in  the 
direction  indicated ;  and  Deck  felt  then  just  as 
though  his  occupation  was  gone,  for  he  desired 
to  give  up  the  command  to  his  superior  in  rank. 
Lieutenant  Knox  was  on  the  forecastle,  and  had 
observed  the  movements  of  Deck  with  interest. 
He  did  not  know  the  contents  of  the  envelope 
which  had  been  delivered  to  him ;  and,  according 
to  his  habit,  he  asked  no  questions. 

"  Lieutenant  Lyon,  on  the  staff,  I  am  in 
doubt,"  said  he,  saluting  the  young  officer. 

"  What's  the  matter  now.  Life  ? "  inquired 
Deck. 

"  The  general  placed  me  in  command  of  this 
boat  while  she  was  lying  at  the  levee ;  but  I  am 
in  doubt  whether  I  have  anything  more  to  do 
with  her  or  not,"  said  the  tall  Kentuckian,  as 
he  looked  down  upon  his  military  superior,  who 
was  greatly  his  physical  inferior. 

"  You  are  in  the  same  box  with  me.  Life ; 
but  don't  cry  about  it,"  replied  Deck,  treating 
him  with   his  usual    familiarity  when    they  were 


324  ON  THE   STAFF 

off  duty.  "  I  should  say  that,  like  mine,  your 
occupation  is  gone ;  and  I  advise  you  to  report 
to  Captain  Gordon  for  duty,  with  the  men  who 
were  under  your  command.  I  shall  do  the  same 
to  my  father.  I  did  not  look  for  any  trouble  dur- 
ing the  trip  before  we  left  the  levee,  or  I  should 
have  asked  the  general  for  more  explicit  or- 
ders ;  "  and  Deck  led  the  way  up  the  stairs  to 
the  saloon,  where  his  father  and  the  rest  of  the 
officei-s  had  gone.  He  found  the  commander  of 
the  battalion  near  the  stern,  and  saluted  him  pre- 
cisely as  though  they  had  not  been  father  and 
son. 

"  Why  was  the  boat  stopped  just  now.  Lieu- 
tenant ?  "  inquired  the  major ;  and  on  duty  he 
treated  his  son  just  as  though  he  had  been  some 
other  person's  son. 

"  I  have  come  up  to  see  you  on  account  of 
that  stoppage,  which  was  to  enable  the  chairman 
of  the  town  council  to  deliver  a  message  to  me," 
answered  Deck. 

"  And  what  was  the  message  ?  " 

"Here  it  is,"  replied  the  son,  handing  his 
father  the  envelope. 


THE   FIGHT   AT   CUFEY'S   FEEEY  325 

Major  Lyon  read  the  despatch,  and  handed  it 
back  to  the  lieutenant. 

"It  was  plainly  intended  for  you,  Major,"  re- 
turned Deck,  declining  to  receive  it.  "  It  ap- 
pears that  there  is  to  be  a  fight  up  the  river ;  and 
as  you  are  in  command  of  the  squadron,  it  was 
evidently  intended  for  you." 

"  Are  you  sure  of  that,  Lieutenant  ?  "  asked 
the  major. 

"As  you  are  in  command  of  all  the  troops  on 
board,  of  course  it  was  intended  for  you,"  re- 
plied the  lieutenant  in  a  matter-of-fact  tone  and 
manner.  "  The  message  indicates  that  a  raid 
from  the  Tennessee  side  of  the  river  is  crossing 
at  the  point  mentioned.  I  think  the  general, 
whom  I  saw  on  the  levee,  and  who  made  signals 
when  he  saw  me  on  the  forecastle,  meant  that  the 
boat  was  to  proceed  up  the  river ;  and  I  repeated 
the  order  to  Sergeant  Sluder,  who  is  acting  as 
pilot." 

"  The  signal  was  made  to  you  ?  "  queried  the 
nmjor. 

"I  took  it  as  made  to  the  boat,  or  at  least 
for  her  to  start  up  the  river.  —  Is  this  your  state- 


326  ON   THE   STAFF 

room,   father  ?  "   indicating  the   one  at  the    door 
of  which  the  major  stood. 

"  The  waiter  assigned  it  to  me." 

Deck  went  into  it,  and  his  father  followed 
him ;  for  the  young  man  did  not  care  to  have 
others  hear  what  passed  between  them. 

"  The  general  has  employed  you,  Dexter,  in 
some  important  positions,  and  I  have  been  very 
glad  to  find  that  he  regarded  you  as  competent 
to  fill  them,"  said  the  major,  as  he  seated  him- 
self on  a  stool.  "  The  question  with  me  now 
is  whether  he  did  not  intend  that  you,  as  his 
staff-officer  and  representative  present,  should 
command  on  this  steamer.  I  am  entirely  will- 
ing that  you  should  do  so." 

.  "  I  have  no  order  to  do  so ;  I  see  no  neces- 
sity for  me  to  do  so,  and  I  shall  not  do  so," 
replied  Deck  firmly. 

"  Of  course,  if  you  had  any  orders  to  give, 
you  would  give  them  to  me,"  added  the  father. 

"  It  does  not  seem  to  me  that  I  could  give 
my  father  an  order,  unless  in  an  extreme  emer- 
gency," said  Deck,  shaking  his  head  to  empha- 
size his  remark. 


THE   FIGHT   AT   CUFFY's   FERRY  327 

"General  Woodbine  told  me  himself  that  you 
commanded  the  little  force  on  the  Hipsy,  and 
that  he  did  not  interfere  with  you  in  the  fight 
with  the  raft.  If  you  could  command  in  the 
presence  of  the  general,  you  can  do  so  in  mine," 
said  the  major  with  a  smile. 

"  That  was  a  picayune  affair,  and  it  was  be- 
neath the  dignity  of  a  general  officer  to  command 
a  party  of  half  a  dozen  men,"  said  Deck  lightly. 
"  But,  father,  without  meddling  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  battalion,  I  will  take  charge  of  the 
steamer." 

"  Very  well,  my  son ;  arrange  it  to  suit  your- 
self. If  the  enemy  were  crossing  the  river  when 
the  message  was  sent,  probably  they  are  gone 
inland  long  before  we  can  get  to  the  ferry ;  and 
if  there  is  any  fight,  it  is  to  be  on  shore." 

"  We  shall  not  get  to  the  ferry  for  three  hours 
yet.  I  think  our  friend  Colonel  Halliburn,  who 
is  in  command  of  the  Home  Guard  at  Millers- 
ville,  with  the  riflemen  who  did  such  good  ser- 
vice at  the  Battle  of  Mill  Springs,  will  be  there, 
and  I  doubt  if  we  have  much  to  do." 

The   question  was   settled   to   the   satisfaction 


328  ON   THE   STAFF 

of  both  father  and  son,  and  there  was  nothing 
more  to  do  about  it.  The  question  of  rank  is 
a  delicate  matter  with  military  officers,  and  Deck 
was  especially  sensitive  in  regard  to  his  rela- 
tions with  his  father ;  and  he  would  have  yielded 
to  him  if  his  right  to  command  had  been  even 
more  clear  than  it  was. 

He  went  to  the  pilot-house,  and  found  Seef 
at  the  wheel  with  Sergeant  Sluder;  and  the  Har- 
binger was  going  along  as  well,  and  apparently 
as  safely,  as  though  she  had  a  licensed  pilot 
at  the  wheel.  Dinner  was  served  as  soon  as  it 
was  ready,  and  the  officers  had  the  table  in  the 
ladies'  cabin.  The  cooks  did  not  seem  to  have 
minded  the  change  of  masters,  and  had  done 
their  duty  faithfully.  It  was  a  plain  meal,  but 
better  than  the  soldiers  usually  had  in  camp. 

For  about  three  hours  the  steamer  went  along 
without  impediment,  when  a  boat  containing  a 
single  person  was  discovered  ahead.  As  it  came 
nearer.  Deck,  who  had  returned  to  the  pilot- 
house, recognized  it  as  the  one  in  which  he  and 
Sergeant  Fronklyn  had  escaped  from  the  works 
at   Beech    Grove,    and   which    he    had    given    to 


THE  FIGHT  AT  CUFFY'S  FERRY      329 

Cuffy  the  ferryman ;  and  he  had  no  doubt  the 
old  negro  was  in  it.  Many  of  the  men  had 
gone  to  the  forecastle  to  smoke  their  pipes,  and 
among  them  he  saw  his  companion  in  the  events 
at  the  ferry  and  Grove  Hill. 

Deck  ordered  the  pilot  to  slow  down,  and 
then  called  to  Fronklyn  to  hail  the  boat,  and 
take  the  ferryman  and  his  boat  on  board,  which 
was  all  done  with  the  assistance  of  the  troopers 
on  the  main  deck.  The  sergeant  was  directed 
to  bring  the  old  negro  to  the  hurricane  deck, 
and  presently  he  appeared  at  the  door  of  the 
pilot-house. 

"  Bress  de  Lo'd,  Mars' r  Lef tenant !  is  that 
you?"  exclaimed  Cuffy,  as  Deck  took  his  hand. 
"  You  war  made  a  gin'al  on  de  field  out  here, 
and  I  done  tink  "  — 

"Not  a  general,  Cuffy;  but  never  mind  all 
that,"  interposed  the  lieutenant.  "  Have  the 
enemy  come  across  the  river  at  your  ferry  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mars'r ;  they  done  brung  six  flats  down 
to  de  ribber,  and  den  com'd  ober.  Den  dey 
done  march  up  de  Jamestown  road,  and  turn  up 
de    hill   to    Cun'l   Hickman's    place.     Cuffy  was 


330  ON   THE   STAFF 

skeered  out  of  his  nineteen  senses.  He  take  to 
his  boat,  and  'scape  down  de  ribber.  I  hear  de 
big  guns  up  dar,  and  don't  know  notin'  more. 
But  hear  'em  firin'  halb  an  hour  ago ;  and  I 
reckon  de  Hum  G'ads  is  after  'em," 

From  this  imperfect  account,  Deck,  who  was 
familiar  with  the  locality,  understood  the  situa- 
tion better  than  the  negro.  Colonel  Hickman 
had  two  field-pieces  on  his  place ;  and  doubtless 
he  had  used  them  with  good  effect,  and  driven 
off  the  marauders.  Probably  his  sons  had  fol- 
lowed them,  and  called  out  Colonel  Halliburn's 
Home  Guard,  who  had  engaged  the  guerillas, 
as  Deck  judged  that  they  must  be. 

The  Harbinger  continued  on  her  course,  and 
soon  came  in  sight  of  the  great  bend  where  the 
ferry  was  located.  Deck  found  his  father  and 
Lieutenant  Knox  on  the  forecastle  when  he  went 
down.  They  had  already  smelled  fight  in  the 
distance,  and  Life  found  a  man  who  had  served 
in  an  artillery  company  in  the  militia.  The  two 
field-pieces  brought  up  on  the  steamer  were  still 
on  board,  with  the  caisson  of  ammunition.  Both 
of  them  had  been  loaded,  and  placed  in  position. 


THE   FIGHT   AT   CUFFY's   FERRY  331 

Major  Lyon  had  ordered  his  command  to  re- 
sume their  arms,  and  they  were  all  ready.  Every- 
thing had  been  arranged  so  that  the  horses  could 
be  conveniently  landed  if  it  should  be  necessary 
to  pursue  the  enemy.  At  the  landing  they  saw 
the  six  flats,  each  of  which  could  carry  eight 
persons  or  more,  huddled  together  in  a  heap. 
As  the  boat  rounded  the  bend,  the  combatants, 
whose  firing  had  been  heard  for  some  minutes, 
came  in  sight.  The  Home  Guard  were  seen  on 
one  side  of  the  road  through  the  grove,  and 
the  ruffians  on  the  other;  and  the  battle  in  this 
position  appeared  to  have  just  begun. 

"Now  is  our  time.  Major,"  said  Deck  to  his 
father.     "They  are  placed  just  right  for  us." 

The  point  was  instantly  perceived  by  the 
commander;  and  he  ordered  Knox  to  fire  the 
big  guns,  which  had  been  loaded  with  canister. 
One  of  the  guns  was  discharged ;  and  it  made 
a  tremendous  racket,  as  though  the  amateur  gun- 
ner had  used  more  powder  than  was  necessary. 


332  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

CAPTAIN    DEXTER    LYON   OF   THE    STAFF 

The  second  field-piece  was  discharged  as  soon 
as  the  smoke  of  the  fii^st  had  cleared  away  enough 
to  enable  the  major  to  see  the  effect  of  the  first. 
The  canister  overtook  the  retreating  foe,  more 
of  them  fell,  and  the  rest  fled  to  the  shelter  of 
a  knoll  at  the  side  of  the  Jamestown  road.  The 
Home  Guards  came  out  from  their  concealment 
at  the  grove  avenue.  The  men  seemed  to  have 
some  fear  that  they  might  be  fired  upon ;  and 
a  man  ran  with  all  his  might  towards  the  Har- 
binger, which  was  holding  her  own  against  the 
current. 

"  That  affair  seems  to  be  over  so  far  as  we 
are  concerned,"  said  the  major,  as  he  viewed  the 
shore.  "  The  defenders  of  the  place  appear  to 
have  as  many  men  as  the  enemy,  and  can  take 
care  of  themselves." 


CAPTAIN   DEXTER    LYON    OF   THE   STAFF      333 

"  But  the  enemy  may  double  on  them,  and 
reach  their  boats,"  suggested  Captain  Gordon. 

"Destroy  the  boats,  then,"  added  Major  Lyon. 

The  captain  spoke  to  Knox  ;  and  the  two  guns 
were  loaded  with  solid  shot,  and  fired  into  the 
nest  of  flats.  They  made  crashing  work  with 
them,  but  they  did  not  sufficiently  break  them 
up  to  satisfy  the  major,  and  he  sent  Cuffy's  boat 
with  four  men  in  it,  armed  with  axes ;  and  they 
were  smashing  them  with  all  the  haste  they  could 
command  when  the  enemy,  who  had  led  the  guards 
on  a  wild  goose-chase,  appeared  running  with  all 
their  speed  towards  the  landing-place. 

Captain  Gordon's  company  were  on  the  fore- 
castle, while  Captain  Truman's  were  on  the  boiler- 
deck  and  near  it  in  the  saloon.  Both  of  them 
were  ordered  to  use  their  carbines,  and  they 
were  promptly  discharged  in  two  volleys.  The 
effect  was  to  check  the  guerillas,  and  cause 
them  to  retreat  again.  But  the  guards  were 
coming  by  the  shortest  way,  and  at  once  gave 
chase  to  them. 

By  this  time  there  was  nothing  but  the  wreck 
of  the  flats  left;  and  they  were  pushed  out  into 


334  ON   THE   STAFF 

the  stream,  and  were  carried  away  by  the  cur- 
rent. The  man  who  was  running  to  the  shore 
was  taken  into  the  boat  used  by  the  axemen. 
He  was  an  old  man  with  white  hair,  and  Deck 
recognized  in  him  Colonel  Hickman  when  he 
came  nearer.  He  was  not  as  old  as  he  might 
have  been,  and  he  leaped  upon  the  deck  like 
an  able-bodied  Kentuckian.  He  saw  Deck,  and 
rushed  to  him  with  both  hands  extended. 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you  again,  my  young 
friend !  "  exclaimed  the  colonel,  as  he  seized  both 
of  the  lieutenant's  hands.  "  You  have  come  to 
us  again  in  our  time  of  need,  though  the  situa- 
tion is  not  so  bad  as  it  was  when  you  were 
here  last.  I  ran  to  the  shore  to  beg  you  not 
to  fire  upon  our  men." 

"We  understood  the  situation,  and  should  not 
have  done  so  without  any  warning,"  replied 
Deck. 

"I  think  we  could  have  beaten  them  off  if 
you  had  not  come  to  our  assistance,"  added  the 
colonel,  "though  we  are  none  the  less  obliged 
to  you  for  your  good  service." 

"Do   you    think   you    can    handle    the    enemy 


CAPTAIN   DEXTER    LYON   OF    THE   STAFF      335 

now,  Colonel  Hickman  ?  "  asked  Major  Lyon,  as 
he  presented  his  hand  to  the  planter.  "  We  are 
ordered  up  the  river,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  delay 
any  longer  than  is  necessary." 

"I  am  sure  we  can  take  care  of  the  guerillas 
now,  and  we  will  have  them  under  guard  as  pris- 
oners very  soon,"  answered  the  colonel.  "I  dis- 
covered the  approach  of  the  enemy  before  they 
were  half  across  the  river,  for  I  was  walking 
down  the  avenue  at  the  time.  I  sent  two  of  my 
negroes  over  to  Millersville,  and  the  Home  Guards 
came  over  at  once.  We  need  not  detain  you  any 
longer.  Cuffy  will  set  me  ashore  in  his  boat; 
and  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  what  you  have 
done.  I  read  all  about  your  affairs  with  the 
steamers  down  below,  and  it  was  fortunate  you 
were  at  Barkville." 

The  colonel  shook  hands  with  all  the  officers 
whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  after  the  gue- 
rilla attack  upon  his  mansion,  when  the  enemy 
were  finally  defeated  and  captured  by  the  River- 
lawns.  Cuffy  rowed  him  ashore,  and  Deck  gave 
the  order  for  the  boat  to  proceed  on  her  way  up 
the    river.     Long  as  it   has   taken  to  report   the 


336  ON   THE   STAFF 

brief  action,  the  Harbinger  had  not  been  detained 
over  half  an  hour. 

It  was  quite  dark  when  the  boat  arrived  at 
the  Monticello  Ford,  though  it  was  only  half- 
past  seven.  The  general  had  telegraphed  when 
the  squadron  would  probably  arrive ;  and  Lieu- 
tenant Blood  was  at  the  landing  to  receive  them, 
and  conduct  them  to  the  camp.  He  gave  Deck 
a  warm  welcome,  and  evidently  liked  him.  The 
major  gave  orders  for  the  debarkation  of  the 
horses,  and  the  men  soon  followed  them.  It  re- 
quired a  longer  time  to  get  the  wagon-train  on 
shore,  and  it  was  half-past  nine  when  the  Har- 
binger was  ready  to  start  on  her  return.  The 
water  was  rather  shoal  near  the  ford,  and  the 
steamer  had  to  back  down  stream  some  distance 
before  she  could  come  about. 

The  officers  and  men  had  taken  their  supper 
at  six  o'clock ;  and  as  soon  as  the  steamer  was 
fairly  on  her  course.  Deck  felt  very  much  like 
a  steamboat  captain.  Then  he  made  a  visit  to 
the  pilot-house.  He  found  the  two  pilots  wide 
awake  ;  but  the  lieutenant  thought  they  were 
having    the    worst    of    it,    with    the    engineers. 


CAPTAIN   DEXTER   LYON   OF   THE   STAFF      337 

Wishing  to  be  in  good  condition  for  the  next 
morning,  Deck  "  turned  in "  then,  and  slept  like 
a  log  till  the  waiter  called  him,  and  said  they 
were  within  a  mile  of  Barkville. 

It  was  half-past  three  in  the  morning ;  and  a 
guard  of  twenty  men  belonging  to  Captain  Bat- 
terson's  battery  were  waiting  for  the  Harbinger, 
to  take  charge  of  her  the  rest  of  the  night. 
Deck  left  his  bed,  and  saw  that  sentinels  were 
posted  in  several  places  about  the  boat;  for  pos- 
sibly there  were  Secessionists  enough  in  the  town 
and  its  vicinity  to  run  away  with  her. 

Three  men  from  the  battery  were  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Hipsy,  and  one  of  them  was  on  guard 
all  night.  As  soon  as  he  had  satisfied  himself 
that  everytliing  was  safe  about  the  steamer,  Deck 
went  to  bed  again ;  and  he  was  not  called  till 
nine  in  the  morning,  when  he  found  General 
Woodbine  standing  at  the  side  of  his  berth. 

"Safely  back?"  said  the  commander.  "The 
waiters  say  there  was  not  much  of  an  engage- 
ment at  the  Ferry,  and  none  of  our  men  were 
killed  or  wounded." 

"  We   were   not  even   fired  into,  and  none   of 


338  ON   THE    STAFF 

US  had  a  chance  to  get  hurt,"  replied  the  lieu- 
tenant, rubbing  his  eyes,  and  then  looking  at 
his  watch.  "  After  nine  o'clock !  Why  didn't 
somebody  call  me?" 

"Because  I  ordered  the  waiters  not  to  call 
you  before,"  answered  the  general  with  a  smile. 
"You  are  still  a  young  man,  and  you  need  all 
the  sleep  you  can  get.  You  may  get  up  now, 
and  have  your  breakfast,  for  we  are  about  ready 
to  start." 

"Are  the  Marions  and  the  battery  on  board 
with  their  guns  ? "  asked  Deck,  amazed  to  find 
he  had  slept  so  long,  and  had  not  been  dis- 
turbed by  the  moving  of  the  guns. 

"  All  on  board ;  and,  as  you  are  the  commander 
of  the  steamer,  we  are  waiting  for  you  to  start 
her,"  laughed  the  general. 

Deck  hastily  dressed  himself,  and  then  went 
down  to  the  forecastle.  He  found  some  of  the 
town's  people  there,  who  were  anxious  to  have  a 
parting  shake  of  the  hand  with  all  the  commis- 
sioned officei-s.  This  ceremony  was  soon  dis- 
posed of ;  the  lieutenant  went  to  the  pilot-house, 
and  gave  the  order  to  back  the  boat,  and  then 


CAPTAIN  DEXTER  LYON  OF  THE  STAFF   339 

to  come  about.  It  was  but  a  few  minutes  be- 
fore she  was  again  on  her  way  to  the  Monticello 
Ford,  and  Deck  went  to  the  cabin  for  his  break- 
fast. 

The  head  waiter  was  exceedingly  deferential 
to  him,  and  brought  him  everything  the  kitchen 
afforded.  He  ate  a  very  hearty  meal,  and  then 
there  was  nothing  more  for  him  to  do  till  the 
boat  arrived  at  her  destination.  It  was  a  beau- 
tiful day  for  the  month  of  February ;  and  he 
went  on  the  hurricane  deck  to  enjoy  the  mild 
air,  which  was  unusually  warm  for  the  season, 
even  in  that  latitude.  He  found  General  Wood- 
bine there,  who  was  disposed  to  walk  with  him ; 
and  they  promenaded  the  deck  for  some  time, 
talking  over  the  war  news  of  the  East  and  the 
West. 

"  The  North  has  been  very  much  depressed 
since  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  though  it  was 
nearly  seven  months  ago,"  said  the  general. 

"But  the  North  has  raised  immense  hosts  of 
troops  since ;  and  the  people  seem  as  determined 
as  ever  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  whatever  it 
may  cost  in  men  and  money,"  added  Deck,  who 


340  ON   THE    STAFF 

had  read  a  great  deal  more  about  the  war  than 
most  young  men  of  his  age. 

"  Of  course  I  don't  know  anything  about  it, 
and  there  are  no  seers  who  can  foretell  what  is 
going  to  happen ;  but  my  judgment  is  that  all  the 
loyal  people  of  the  country  will  have  something 
to  cheer  and  encourage  them  before  many  more 
weeks  pass  by,"  added  the  commander. 

The  lieutenant  thought  the  general  knew  more 
about  what  was  coming  than  he  was  willing  to 
admit;  but  he  was  afraid  to  ask  any  questions, 
and  probably  his  companion  would  not  have 
answered  them  if  he  had.  The  conversation 
was  interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  several 
other  officers  on  the  upper  deck ;  but  Deck 
kept  up  a  heavy  thinking  all  the  time.  It  was 
evident  enough  that  a  general  of  the  commander's 
ability,  and  especially  one  who  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  a  commander  of  division,  would  not  re- 
main long  as  the  chief  of  a  force  consisting  of 
three  companies  of  cavalry  and  a  battery  of 
light  artillery. 

Deck  continued  to  walk  for  the  want  of  some- 
thing better  to  do ;  and  he  wondered  if  he  should 


CAPTAIN   DEXTER   LYON    OF   THE   STAFF      341 

retain  his  present  position  near  the  general,  who 
had  certainly  appreciated  him  in  the  past,  and 
had  always  been  very  kind  to  him.  It  was  an 
interesting  question  to  him,  though  he  would 
not  have  been  sorely  afflicted  if  he  had  been 
sent  back  to  his  former  company.  In  his  pre- 
vious trips  up  the  river,  he  had  had  something 
to  stir  his  blood ;  and  he  almost  wished  for  some- 
thing of  the  kind  at  the  present  time,  for  he 
wanted  something  to  do  to  turn  his  thoughts 
into  another  direction. 

Nothing  came  to  disturb  the  quiet  of  the  trip. 
Dinner  was  served  at  the  usual  time,  and  at  about 
four  in  the  afternoon  the  Harbinger  arrived  at 
the  ford.  Before  dark  the  force  had  been  landed, 
and  conducted  to  the  camp.  For  the  next  four 
days  nothing  was  done  which  relieved  the  anx- 
iety of  Deck  in  regard  to  the  immediate  future. 
At  that  time  came  the  news  that  Fort  Henry, 
on  the  Tennessee  River,  had  been  captured,  and 
that  General  Grant  was  moving  on  Fort  Donel- 
son  on  the  Cumberland. 

It  was  evident  enough  to  Deck  that  if  Fort 
Donelson  was  taken,  the  Confederate  line  of  de- 


342  ON    THE    STAFF 

fence  must  be  moved  farther  south,  for  nothing 
would  remain  of  it  but  Bowling  Green.  Com- 
modore Foote's  gunboats  were  pounding  at  the 
fort,  but  not  with  the  same  success  as  at  Fort 
Henry.  While  news  was  coming  occasionally. 
General  Buell  was  organizing  his  army,  and  had 
already  created  six  divisions,  the  first  of  which 
was  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General 
Thomas.  General  Woodbine  had  been  unable 
to  have  a  brigade  in  the  division  of  his  friend  ; 
but  he  was  placed  in  command  of  three  Kentucky 
regiments,  and  his  brigade  was  completed  by 
the  addition  of  the  three  companies  of  cavalry 
and  Batterson's  light  battery.  This  brigade  was 
placed  in  the  division  of  Brigadier-General  Wil- 
liam Nelson. 

It  was  in  General  Woodbine's  tent  that  this 
information  was  conveyed  to  Lieutenant  Lyon. 
The  latter  had  heard  the  name  of  General  Nel- 
son, but  he  knew  next  to  nothing  about  him. 
He  was  to  be  in  the  division  of  this  commander, 
and  it  was  natural  for  him  to  desire  to  know 
something  more  about  him. 

"Who  is  our  division  commander,  General?  " 


CAPTAIN    DEXTER   LYON    OF    THE    STAFF      3-13 

he  asked.  "I  have  read  somethmg  about  him 
in  connection  with  affairs  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  State,  but  I  have  about  forgotten  what  little 
I  did  know." 

"In  the  first  place  he  is  a  Kentuckian,  and  I 
think  he  is  about  thirty-seven  years  old.  He 
was  in  the  navy  formerly,  and  commanded  a 
naval  battery  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  after- 
wards on  duty  in  the  Mediterranean.  He  was 
several  times  promoted,  and  as  a  lieutenant-com- 
mander was  sent  West  to  command  a  gunboat 
on  the  Western  rivers,  especially  on  the  Ohio." 

"  How  does  he  happen  to  be  in  the  army  if 
he  is  a  naval  officer?"  asked  Deck,  puzzled  with 
his  present  position  as  a  general  officer  in  com- 
mand of  a  division. 

"  He  was  detached  from  naval  duty,  and  placed 
under  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  who 
sent  him  to  his  native  State  to  raise  and  organ- 
ize troops,  in  which  he  was  very  successful. 
He  organized  Camp  Dick-Robinson,  and  another 
in  Mason  County.  He  had  several  fights  with 
the  enemy  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  and 


344  ON   THE   STAFF 

has  always  been  considered  an  able  and  brave 
officer." 

"  I  shall  probably  never  have  anything  to  do 
with  him,  but  I  should  like  to  know  what  sort 
of  a  man  he  is,"  added  Deck. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  say,  in  order  to 
speak  the  truth,  that  he  is  a  harsh  and  over- 
bearing man.  Perhaps  I  had  better  not  say  any- 
thing more  about  him ;  and  I  think  that  all  you 
had  better  remember  about  him  is  that  he  is  a 
brave  and  very  able  officer.  But  I  have  some- 
thing more  to  say  to  you.  Captain  Lyon,"  added 
the  general,  as  he  took  from  his  table  a  ponder- 
ous envelope,  and  presented  it  to  him. 

"You  called  me  Captain  Lyon!  "  exclaimed 
Deck  in  utter  amazement. 

"I  meant  it;  read  the  paper  in  the  envelope." 


LONG   DELAY   AT   DUCK    EIVER   BRIDGE      345 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

THE    LONG    DELAY    AT   DUCK    RIVER    BRIDGE 

Like  his  father,  Deck  thought  he  had  advanced 
very  rapidly  for  his  age,  and  he  had  no  more  idea 
of  becoming  a  captain  than  he  had  of  being  a 
major-general.  He  could  scarcely  believe  the  evi- 
dence of  his  own  senses  as  he  saw  his  name 
plainly  written  in  the  commission  handed  to  him. 
He  could  not  quite  understand  it.  It  was  not 
more  than  a  couple  of  months  before  that  he 
had  been  promoted  from  second  to  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

He  had  thought  that  he  might  become  a  cap- 
tain when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  if  the 
war  lasted  long  enough  ;  but  he  had  looked  for 
no  advancement  sooner  than  that,  though  he  had 
heard  of  captains  in  the  army  who  were  no  older 
than  he  was,  and  of  some  who  had  been  pro- 
moted to  this  rank  who  had  seen  less  service 
than  he  had.      The    general    left  the    tent  while 


346  ON    THE   STAFF 

he  was  reading  his  commission,  and  he  had  the 
time  to  tliink  about  it. 

He  could  not  help  asking  himself  what  he  had 
done  to  merit  this  preferment.  He  had  been  in 
no  regular  battle  recently.  He  had  accidentally 
discovered  the  approach  of  the  Harbinger;  but  he 
had  not  fought  at  all  in  the  fight  in  the  town, 
though  he  was  willing  to  take  upon  himself  some 
of  the  credit  of  the  capture  of  the  steamer.  He 
had  beaten  off  the  ruffians  when  they  attacked 
the  Hipsy,  and  he  had  managed  the  affair  with 
the  raft.  Perhaps  he  was  in  a  degree  indebted 
to  the  presence  of  the  general  on  that  occasion. 
He  had  been  active  in  the  launch  at  the  engage- 
ment resulting  in  the  destruction  of  the  New 
Moon,  and  he  had  been  able  to  make  some  rather 
important  suggestions  to  General  Woodbine  at 
times. 

But  he  was  not  quite  willing  to  admit  to 
himself  that  he  had  done  enough  to  merit  the 
promotion  that  had  come  to  him.  "  Captain 
Lyon !  "  His  name  with  this  handle  to  it  seemed 
to  him  to  be  bigger  than  Bunker  Hill  Monu- 
ment, which  he  had  seen  on  his  way  from  New 


LONG    DELAY    AT   DUCK    RIVER   BRIDGE      347 

Hampshire  to  Kentucky.  So  far  as  he  knew,  no 
other  officer  or  j)rivate  had  been  promoted ;  and 
of  course  he  ascribed  his  good  fortune  solely  to 
General  Woodbine,  who  had  made  a  favorite  of 
him. 

He  was  not  disposed  to  quarrel  with  the  honor 
that  had  been  thrust  upon  him ;  for  no  such 
thought  as  being  promoted  had  come  to  him 
since  his  advancement  to  the  rank  of  first  lieu- 
tenant. After  all,  it  seemed  to  him  only  an 
honor;  for  he  was  to  remain  on  the  staff  of  the 
general,  and  his  duties  would  be  essentially  the 
same  as  before.  It  was  not  as  though  he  was 
to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  a  company  in  the 
field.  The  general  believed  that  the  nation  was 
on  the  eve  of  great  events,  which  to  the  new 
captain  meant  hard  fighting;  for  the  enemy  were 
brave  even  to  desperation. 

If  this  prediction  were  realized,  he  would  have 
the  opportunity  to  win  his  promotion  after  he 
had  obtained  it,  as  he  could  hardly  believe  he 
had  already  done.  He  walked  up  and  down  in 
the  tent,  not  a  little  nervous  and  excited  in  his 
new  and  novel   situation.     The  army  had  had  a 


348  ON   THE   STAFF 

long  rest,  or  at  least  that  portion  of  it  to  which 
he  belonged  had,  though  the  Riverlawn  Cavalry 
had  been  kept  busy  most  of  the  time  since  it 
had  been  mustered  into  the  service. 

The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson 
had  come  to  Somerset,  and  it  had  been  soon 
followed  by  the  evacuation  of  Bowling  Green 
by  the  enemy.  General  Mitchell  had  been  ad- 
vancing upon  the  place,  and  it  was  now  in  pos- 
session of  his  command.  The  Confederate  army 
under  General  A.  S.  Johnston  had  been  concen- 
trated at  Corinth,  just  over  the  boundary  of  Ten- 
nessee in  Mississippi;  and  General  Halleck,  who 
was  now  in  command  of  the  armies  of  the  Ohio 
and  Tennessee,  was  preparing  for  a  movement 
in  this  direction. 

General  Woodbine  conjectured  that  the  divis- 
ions lately  organized  would  take  part  in  this 
advance  into  the  enemy's  country,  and  he  proved 
to  be  correct  in  his  surmise.  His  brigade  was 
organized  on  paper,  and  early  in  March  it  was 
gathered  on  the  field.  He  had  three  regiments 
of  Kentucky  infantry,  with  the  battery  and  the 
three    companies    of    cavalry    that   served    under 


LONG  DELAY  AT  DUCK  RIVER  BRIDGE   349 

him  at  Barkville  and  elsewhere ;  and  he  believed 
he  had  as  fine  a  body  of  troops  as  there  was  in 
the  field. 

When  the  brigade  was  fully  organized,  and 
had  been  drilled  for  a  week  in  brigade  evolu- 
tions, it  was  inspected  by  General  Nelson.  On 
this  occasion  the  officers  and  privates  of  the 
cavalry  and  battery  obtained  their  first  sight 
of  the  division  commander.  He  was  certainly  a 
good-looking  man,  and  was  pleasant  and  affable 
in  his  manner.  Captain  Lyon  and  Lieutenant 
Herndon  were  introduced  to  him;  and  in  spite 
of  what  he  had  heard  of  him.  Deck  could  not 
help  liking  him,  and  General  Woodbine  seemed 
to  be  on  excellent  terms  with  him. 

"  He  is  not  such  a  terrible  fellow  as  some  of 
the  boys  think,  Frank,"  said   Deck  to  Herndon. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  Captain "  — 

"Don't  do  that!"  interposed  the  newly  pro- 
moted warmly. 

"Do  what?"  demanded  the  lieutenant. 

"  If  you  call  me  captain,  I  shall  feel  obliged 
to  address  you  as  Lieutenant  Herndon  every 
time,"  replied  Deck. 


350  ON    THE    STAFF 

"  Upon  my  word  and  sacred  honor,  I  like  the 
sound  of  the  word,  and  I  am  happy  that  you 
were  promoted  instead  of  this  Kentuckian,"  re- 
plied the  lieutenant;  "but  if  you  object  so  badly, 
I  will  not  call  you  by  your  new  title,  except  on 
duty,  or  when  we  have  company,  and  then  I 
must,  of  course,  put  the  proper  handle  to  your 
name." 

"  All  right,  Frank.  But  what  were  you  going 
to  say  about  the  division  general?"  asked  Cap- 
tain Lyon. 

"  I  was  about  to  say  that  General  Nelson  is  a 
tremendous  fellow.  He  has  been  a  naval  officer 
most  of  his  active  life,  and  when  we  come  into 
the  presence  of  an  enemy  he  will  be  in  favor  of 
boarding  him  at  once.  He  is  a  fighting  charac- 
ter, not  at  all  squeamish  about  going  in  where 
some  of  us  will  get  hurt." 

"  That  is  the  kind  of  an  officer  for  me,"  added 
Deck. 

After  the  inspection,  and  a  stirring  speech 
by  the  general  of  the  fourth  division.  General 
Woodbine  spoke  some  pleasant  words  complimen- 
tary to  his  superior,  hoping   and  expecting  that 


LOKG    DELAY   AT    DUCK    IIIVEK,   BRIDGE      351 

the  brigade  would  stand  by  the  colors  in  any 
scene  of  peril  into  which  the  able  and  brave 
general  would  be  likely  to  lead  them,  and  then 
announced  that  Lieutenant  Lyon  had  been  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  captain,  but  would  con- 
tinue to  serve  on  his  staff,  and  that  he  was  to 
be  obeyed  and  respected  as  such. 

The  Riverlawns,  the  Marions,  and  the  battery 
cheered  these  remarks  very  vigorously,  and  the 
hands  of  General  Nelson  went  together  with 
the  others ;  and  the  young  captain  bowed  to  him 
with  a  martial  salute.  The  parade  was  dis- 
missed, and  in  the  camp  nothing  was  talked 
about  but  the  new  general  and  the  new  captain. 

General  Buell  was  at  Nashville,  which  had 
been  occupied  by  Federal  troojDS  since  the  middle 
of  February.  Six  divisions  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  this  officer,  consisting  of  tliirty-seven 
thousand  effective  men ;  and  nearly  as  manj^  more 
were  disposed  so  as  to  protect  his  communica- 
tions, and  preserve  order  in  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee. It  was  the  plan  of  General  Halleck  to 
concentrate  the  armies,  and  attack  the  enemy  at 
Corinth.      He   sent   a    column  up  the  Tennessee 


352  ON   THE   STAFF 

under  General  C.  F.  Smith,  to  break  up  the  rail- 
road communications  between  Corinth,  Jackson, 
the  capital  of  Mississippi,  and  Humboldt,  Ten- 
nessee. 

This  expedition  was  a  failure  on  account  of 
the  great  strength  of  the  enemy  at  the  points 
named.  General  Smith  returned  down  the  river, 
and  debarked  his  force  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  not 
intending  this  place  for  the  concentration  of  the 
army  for  the  movement  upon  Corinth ;  for  he 
knew  nothing  at  all  about  it.  General  Halleck 
had  already  designated  Savannah  for  this  pur- 
pose. This  town  is  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Tennessee,  less  than  ten  miles  below  Pittsburg 
Landing. 

At  Nashville,  General  Buell  sent  forward  a  de- 
tachment of  cavalry  from  that  city  to  Columbia, 
about  forty  miles  south-south-west  of  the  capi- 
tal of  Tennessee,  to  protect  the  bridges  if  it 
were  still  possible ;  for  this  town  was  on  the 
direct  road  to  Savannah,  where  the  armies  were 
to  come  together  for  the  great  movement  upon 
Corinth.  The  Riverlawns  and  Marions  were  a 
part  of  this  force. 


LONG  DELAY   AT  DUCK   KIYER   BRIDGE      353 

Without  orders  from  General  Halleck,  which 
came  later,  General  Buell  started  the  second 
division  of  his  army  under  McCook,  with  his 
infantry  column  immediately  after  the  cavalry. 
Within  five  days  from  the  15th  of  March,  the 
fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  and  first  divisions  were  on 
the  march  for  Savannah  in  the  order  they  are 
mentioned.  This  placed  General  Nelson's  com- 
mand in  the  advance,  while  General  Thomas's  was 
the  last  to  move. 

The  cavalry  saved  all  the  bridges  on  the  road 
except  two.  The  one  over  Rutherford's  Creek  was 
no  impediment;  but  that  over  Duck  River,  which 
is  an  affluent  of  the  Tennessee,  rising  near  the 
centre  of  the  State,  and  about  two  hundred  miles 
long,  was  a  serious  obstruction  to  the  progress 
of  the  armies.  The  bridge  was  gone,  and  the 
water  was  forty  feet  deep.  McCook's  division 
was  obliged  to  halt  there. 

General  Buell's  army  was  not  provided  with 
pontoons,  as  every  considerable  force  was  farther 
along  in  the  war,  and  the  stream  was  not  forda- 
ble ;  the  second  division  was  compelled  to  halt 
there,  and  the  fourth   division,  under  the   impa- 


354  ON   THE   STAFF 

tient  Nelson,  soon  came  up  to  join  in  the  tedious 
waiting. 

General  McCook  was  not  a  patient  waiter ;  and 
having  an  Indiana  regiment,  composed  largely  of 
mechanics,  he  immediately  began  the  construction 
of  a  bridge,  for  they  might  have  to  wait  till 
summer  for  the  water  to  be  reduced  to  a  fordable 
condition.  Though  a  whole  brigade  worked  dili- 
gently and  energetically,  the  work  was  not  fin- 
ished till  the  end  of  the  month. 

The  officers  of  the  Riverlawns  were  not  over 
patient  at  this  delay,  and  many  of  the  men  were 
employed  under  their  supervision  in  the  work. 
Before  the  bridge  was  completed,  it  was  known 
at  the  camp  that  General  Grant  and  his  army 
were  on  the  west  side  of  the  Tennessee,  in  fact, 
at  the  point  where  General  Smith  had  disem- 
barked his  force.  The  praises  of  the  whole  na- 
tion for  the  hero  of  Fort  Donelson  were  ringing 
through  the  land,  and  General  Nelson  was  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  people  in  their  estimate  of 
the  generalship  of  Grant. 

Corinth,  at  that  time  the  stronghold  of  the 
Confederates,   was  not   more    than  twenty   miles 


LONG  DELAY  AT  DFCK  EIVER   BRIDGE      355 

from  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  General  Nelson  was 
troubled  lest  Grant  should  be  confronted  by  an 
overwhelming  force  at  a  time  when  he  needed 
re-enforcements.  But  the  bridge  was  not  done, 
and  the  thirty-seven  thousand  soldiers  on  the 
west  side  of  Duck  River  could  not  move  for- 
ward to  his  support.  Nelson  was  more  impatient 
at  the  delay  than  the  commander  of  the  army, 
who  did  not  share  the  fears  of  his  subordinate. 

"  Woodbine,  I  am  afraid  Grant  is  in  peril. 
With  the  whole  Confederate  army  in  this  section 
within  twenty  miles  of  him,  it  may  swoop  down 
upon  him  and  wipe  him  out,"  said  General  Nel- 
son, as  he  and  the  brigadier  were  observing  the 
slow  progress  of  the  work  on  the  bridge.  "  I 
have  applied  for  permission  to  move  forward." 

"  Do  you  think  of  swimming  your  division 
across  the  river?"  asked  General  Woodbine,  with 
his  cheerful  smile. 

"  My  wagons  can't  swim,"  replied  General  Nel- 
son ;  "  but  I  am  satisfied  that  there  is  a  ford 
somewhere  on  this  river  by  which  we  can  cross ; 
and  the  next  thing  is  to  find  it.  General  Buell 
replied  to  me  that  if  I  could  get  my  men  safely 


356  ON   THE   STAFF 

over  the  river,  with  my  trains,  artillery,  and  bag- 
gage, I  should  have  the  advance  of  the  army 
afterwards  to  the  Tennessee  River.  That  would 
just  suit  me.  You  have  cavalry  in  your  brigade, 
Woodbine,  and  I  wish  you  to  find  this  ford. 
Send  one  company  up  the  river,  and  the  other 
down.  Who  is  that  smart  officer  you  have 
spoken  to  me  about  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  Captain  Lyon  ?  " 

"  That  is  the  man.  Send  him  with  one  of  the 
companies  up  the  river." 

"  I  am  sure  that  Captain  Lyon  will  find  a  ford 
if  there  is  one,"  added  General  Woodbine,  as 
he  returned  to  his  tent,  where  he  found  Deck 
studying  a  map  of  the  State. 

He  explained  what  the  general  of  the  division 
wished  to  find,  and  said  he  had  mentioned  "the 
smart  officer "  on  his  staff  in  connection  for  the 
search  for  the  ford. 

"  What  is  the  use  of  sending  a  whole  com- 
pany on  such  a  hunt.  General  ?  "  asked  Deck. 

"  That  is  what  the  general  suggested,  and  I 
did  not  feel  like  asking  any  hard  questions," 
said  General  Woodbine,  who  had  already  learned 


LONG   DELAY   AT   DUCK   KIVER   BRIDGE      357 

to  treat  his  immediate  superior  with  the  utmost 
deference.  "  But  I  think  he  is  right ;  for  we  are 
in  the  enemy's  country,  and  any  small  squad 
might  be  shot  down  while  they  were  exploring 
the  river.  You  know  what  is  wanted,  and  you 
may  give  me  your  plan  for  doing  what  is  re- 
quired in  an  hour  from  now.  Captain." 

The  commander   left   the    tent,  and  Deck   re- 
turned to  his  map. 


358  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

AN    UP-RIVER    ENTERPRISE    PROJECTED 

The  problem  that  had  been  submitted  for  solu- 
tion to  Captain  Lyon  he  regarded  as  a  very  easy 
one,  and  he  could  have  given  his  reply  before  the 
general  left  the  tent  as  well  as  an  hour  later. 
But  he  looked  over  his  map,  and  followed  the 
course  of  Duck  River  near  Columbia  for  twenty 
miles  in  either  direction.  He  had  had  occasion 
to  study  rivers  on  the  Green  and  Cumberland; 
and  he  made  up  his  mind  where  he  should  find 
a  ford,  if  he  found  one  at  all  at  the  present  high 
stage  of  the  streams. 

He  had  settled  the  question  in  his  own  mind 
in  ten  minutes ;  and  he  left  the  tent  to  find  the 
general  and  report  to  him.  Lieutenant  Herndon 
was  at  the  outside  of  the  entrance,  but  Captain 
Lyon  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  mention  the  mis- 
sion to  which  he  had  been  appointed. 


AN   UP   EIVER   ENTERPRISE   PROJECTED      359 

"  Which  way  did  General  Woodbine  go, 
Frank  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  He  seemed  to  be  walking  about  here  for 
exercise,"  replied  his  companion  on  the  staff. 
"Here  he  comes." 

"  What  are  you  doing  out  here,  Captain  Lyon, 
when  I  gave  you  something  to  do  at  the  desk  ?  " 
asked  the  general,  with  something  like  a  frown 
on  his  brow,  though  the  young  officer  had  very 
rarely  seen  such  a  thing  there. 

"I  have  done  it,  and  I  am  ready  to  report, 
General,"  answered  Deck. 

"  But  I  left  you  not  ten  minutes  ago  to  do 
the  work." 

"  The  conundrum  you  gave  me  was  not  a  hard 
one  to  guess ;  and  if  you  had  not  left  the  tent  so 
suddenly,  I  could  have  guessed  it  at  sight." 

"I  suppose  you  have  condemned  the  company 
of  cavalry  which  General  Nelson  indicated  to 
accompany  you,"  added  the  general. 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  have  not,  but  have  ap- 
proved it,  as  I  did  when  you  suggested  that  we 
were  in  the  enemy's  country ;  and  there  are  Se- 
cessionists enough  within  twenty  miles  of  Colum- 


360  ON   THE   STAFF 

bia  who  would  take  pleasure  in  shooting  any 
officer  wearing  a  blue  uniform,  or  private  either, 
for  that  matter,"  answered  Deck. 

"  What  have  you  to  report,  then,  since  you  fall 
in  with  General  Nelson's  idea  ? "  inquired  the 
brigadier. 

"  I  don't  think  a  company  of  cavalry,  or  if 
there  are  a  dozen  of  them,  could  find  the  ford. 
It  seems  to  me  like  setting  an  elephant  to  catch 
a  mosquito,"  replied  Deck,  who  could  not  help 
expressing  his  own  opinion  when  he  had  one,  but 
always  with  proper  respect  for  that  of  others. 

"  Why  so  ?  " 

"  Because  the  troopers  would  not  be  able  to 
follow  the  river.  Probably  there  are  steep  banks 
in  places  on  the  stream  to  prevent  them  from 
getting  near  it." 

"But  a  ford  would  be  useless  in  such  a  local- 
ity, for  the  wagons  could  not  get  at  it,"  the 
general  objected. 

"  Perhaps  they  could ;  but  I  will  not  stop  to 
argue  that  question.  In  other  places  there  would 
be  forests  and  soft  ground  where  the  horses  could 
not  pass,"  continued  the  captain. 


AN   UP   RIVER    ENTERPRISE   PROJECTED       361 

"But  a  ford  would  be  useless  to  us  in  such 
a  place.  I  don't  think  you  make  out  a  case  this 
time,  Captain,"  replied  the  general,  with  a  look 
of  disappointment  on  his  face. 

"  I  think  we  shall  want  the  company  just  the 
same ;  but  I  have  not  mentioned  my  plan  yet," 
added  Deck,  who  could  not  fail  to  see  that  the 
general  was  not  as  well  pleased  with  him  as  he 
had  often  been. 

"  Then,  what  is  your  plan  ?  "  demanded  Gen- 
eral Woodbine,  more  impatient  than  he  had  ever 
seen  him  before. 

"As  I  was  walking  along  the  river  yesterday, 
I  noticed,  in  the  rear  of  a  very  fine  residence,  a 
handsome  keel  boat;  and  all  I  have  to  say,  in 
addition  to  what  I  have  said  before,  is  that  this 
boat  is  just  the  thing  with  which  to  find  a  ford 
in  the  river,"  replied  Deck  very  quietly,  and 
with  nothing  of  the  exultation  he  felt  apparent 
in  his  manner,  for  he  realized  that  he  had  solved 
the  question  effectually,  and  there  could  be  no 
possible  doubt  of  it  in  the  minds  of  the  two 
generals. 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  the  general,  as  he  sprang 


362  ON   THE   STAFF 

forward,  and  grasped  the  hand  of  the  captain. 
"  It  is  as  plain  as  daylight  in  a  clear  morning. 
Why  didn't  either  of  us  generals  think  of 
that?" 

"  The  simplest  things  are  sometimes  hidden 
the  deepest,"  added  Deck. 

"  Then,  you  will  go  up  the  river  in  the  boat. 
And  you  will  not  want  the  cavalry  company  to 
go  with  you  ?  " 

"Not  with  me.  General,  for  I  could  not  get 
them  into  a  boat  of  that  size,  especially  not  with 
their  horses.  But  I  want  the  troopers  near  the 
boat  all  the  time,  half  of  them  on  each  side  of 
the  stream.  If  the  river  is  not  guarded,  I  shall 
come  back  dead  or  wounded;  and  that  would 
not  be  pleasant  for  my  father  and  mother,  how- 
ever it  might  be  to  me."  •-. 

"  You  shall  have  the  company ;  but  how  will 
you  get  half  of  it  over  the  river  in  the  absence 
of  a  bridge  ?  " 

"  Every  one  of  our  horses  can  swim  like  an 
eel ;  for  we  used  to  take  them  across  Green 
River  and  Bar  Creek  for  the  practice." 

"  Very   well,  you    can    arrange    the    matter   to 


AN    UP   mVER    ENTEliPHISE   PKOJECTED       363 

suit  yourself ;  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  you 
shot,  for  we  want  to  use  you  in  the  future,  the 
near  future  General  Nelson  believes,"  added  the 
general,  as  he  went  to  the  curtain  of  the  tent, 
and  called  Lieutenant  Herndon. 

The  staff-officer  came  at  once,  and  looked  cu- 
riously at  both  occupants  of  the  tent. 

"Now,  Captain  Lyon,  tell  the  lieutenant  where 
that  boat  is  to  be  found." 

"  I  have  not  been  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river  for  a  very  good  reason,"  replied  Deck ; 
"but  the  house  is  the  second  one  from  where 
they  are  building  the  new  bridge.  If  you  walk 
ten  rods  or  less  along  the  river,  you  will  see  the 
boat  on  the  other  side.  It  is  painted  white,  and 
is  made  fast  by  the  painter  to  a  sort  of  pier, 
extending  out  into  the  stream.  You  cannot  very 
easily  miss  it." 

"Is  the  painter  on  the  wharf  now?  If  he  is, 
I  should  think  he  would  get  tired  of  standing 
there,"  inquired  Herndon.  "  Perhaps  he  will 
bring  the  boat  across  the  river,  if  I  point  my 
revolver  at  his  head." 

"I    don't    believe    he    will,"    answered    Deck, 


364  ON   THE   STAFF 

laughing  heartily,  in  which  the  general  joined 
him,  for  he  knew  what  the  painter  was. 

"  Why  do  you  laugh,  Deck  ? "  demanded 
Herndon,  not  conscious  of  his  blunder. 

"  The  painter  is  the  rope  by  which  the  boat 
is  made  fast  to  the  pier,"  added  Deck. 

"It  is  a  queer  painter,"  said  the  lieutenant. 
"  I  don't  know  that  I  ever  was  in  a  boat  in  my 
life  ;  for  I  came  from  a  hilly^  county,  where  boats 
are  not  of  much  account.  But  if  the  live  painter 
is  not  there,  how  am  I  to  get  the  boat ;  for  the 
river  just  here  is  wider  than  it  is  deep  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  expect  you  to  get  it,  Lieuten- 
ant," interposed  the  commander  of  the  brigade. 
"  Which  company  will  you  have.  Captain  ?  " 

"  Captain  Gordon's,  for  Lieutenant  Knox  com- 
mands the  second  platoon,  and  he  will  bring 
over  the  boat." 

"Lieutenant,  ask  Major  Lyon  to  have  Captain 
Gordon  march  his  company  to  brigade  head- 
quarters as  soon  as  possible,  and  to  send  Lieu- 
tenant Knox  with  "  — 

"  Sergeant  Fronklyn  and  Corporal  Milton," 
added  Deck,  supplying  the  omission. 


AN    UP   RIVER    ENTERPRISE    PROJECTED       365 

Herndon  rushed  out  of  the  tent  as  though  he 
was  in  a  hurry.  He  found  the  three  companies 
of  cavalry  driUing  in  a  field  in  the  rear  of  the 
brigade  camp,  and  delivered  his  order  to  Major 
Lyon,  who  repeated  it  to  Captain  Gordon,  and 
the  officers  whose  names  were  given  were  sent 
on  the  instant.  Herndon's  horse  had  been  at  the 
picket  near  the  tent,  and  he  had  not  been  ob- 
liged to  walk  the  distance.  Knox  led  the  way 
at  a  mad  gallop,  but  the  staff-officer  kept  at  his 
side  all  the  way.  Life  did  not  even  ask  if  there 
was  an  attack  upon  any  of  the  camps,  and  sa- 
luted the  general,  who  was  standing  with  Deck 
in  front  of  the  tent. 

"  Go  with  the  lieutenant.  Captain  Lyon,  and 
point  out  the  boat  to  him  ;  and  be  sure  to  have 
him  bring  over  the  oars  and  the  rudder,"  said 
the  general. 

Deck  mounted  Herndon's  horse,  and  led  the 
way  up  the  road  by  the  side  of  the  river. 

"  Do  you  see  that  boat  in  the  river  on  the 
other  side,  made  fast  to  the  pier,  Life  ? "  said 
Deck,  pointing  in  the  direction  he  indicated. 

"  Certainly    I    do ;    I    am   not    blind.    Captain 


366  ON   THE    STAFF 

Lyon,"  replied  the  Kentuckian,  who  took  great 
delight  in  repeating  the  young  officer's  name  and 
title  as  often  as  he  could. 

"  I  want  that  boat,"  added  Deck. 

"  That's  easy  enough,"  answered  Life. 

"But  there  is  no  bridge  here  now,"  suggested 
the  captain. 

"If  there  had  been,  we  should  have  been 
nearer  the  Tennessee  River  than  we  are  now, 
Captain  Lyon.  But  we  don't  want  no  bridges 
for  this  business.  Captain  Lyon." 

"  Any  bridges,  Life  ?  "  laughed  Deck. 

"  Any  bridges,"  repeated  Life.  "  Do  you 
want  that  boat  now.  Captain  Lyon  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  we  can  get  it." 

Lieutenant  Knox  looked  up  the  river,  and  saw 
a  place  where  there  was  a  steep  descent  to  the 
stream,  which  was  used  as  a  watering-place  for 
horses  and  cattle.  Then  calling  the  two  non- 
commissioned officers  to  follow  him,  he  galloped 
to  the  spot,  and  hardly  checking  the  speed  of 
his  powerful  steed,  he  plunged  into  the  river. 
His  horse  was  accustomed  to  swimming,  and  to 
swimming  with   the  stalwart    cavalryman  on    his 


AN    UP    RIVER    ENTERPRISE    PROJECTED      367 

back.  He  swam  rapidly,  and  his  neigh  in  the 
water  was  answered  by  the  other  two  horses. 
In  a  few  minutes  he  was  at  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  He  found  a  sandy  shore  there,  which 
seemed  to  be  used  for  a  bathing-place  for  the 
occupants  of  the  handsome  house. 

The  three  troopers  rode  up  the  slope,  and 
landed  in  a  road  leading  to  a  garden.  Corporal 
Milton  was  used  to  handling  a  fiat,  and  the  lieu- 
tenant selected  him  to  take  the  boat  to  the  other 
side.  The  latter  dismounted,  and  started  for 
the  pier  just  as  four  negroes  rushed  down  the 
road  from  an  outbuilding. 

"  You  gwine  to  steal  Mars'r's  boat.  He  don't 
let  you  do  that,"  one  of  them  belched  out. 

"  We  are  going  to  take  the  boat ;  but  you  can 
have  it  after  we  have  done  with  it,"  replied  the 
lieutenant. 

"No,  sar!  can't  hab  de  boat!  "  protested  the 
negro  who  seemed  to  be  the  boss. 

"  Now  go  back  to  your  shop.  Pinkeye,  and 
don't  make  any  more  noise,"  said  Life,  as  he 
pointed  his  revolver  at  the  group,  Fronklyn 
doing  the  same,  while  Milton  was  detaching  the 


368  ON  THE   STAFF 

painter  from  the  pier.  He  did  not  wait  to  see 
the  result  of  the  affair  on  the  shore,  but  jumped 
into  the  boat,  and  shoved  off.  Fronklyn  had 
taken  the  corporal's  horse  by  the  bridle-rein, 
with  the  intention  of  swimming  him  over  the 
river.  The  negroes  did  not  like  the  looks  of  the 
revolvers,  and  they  retired  to  the  outbuilding. 

"  We  needn't  wait  any  longer,"  said  Life,  as 
he  started  for  the  sloping  beach. 

Just  then  an  old  gentleman  came  out  of  the 
house  with  a  gun  in  his  hand.  Without  waiting 
to  challenge  the  couple  in  the  water,  he  fired 
his  piece.  Fortunately  he  did  not  hit  either  of 
them ;  but  each  of  them  returned  the  fire,  and 
the  old  man  dropped  upon  the  ground.  The 
horses  swam  to  the  other  side,  and  reached  it 
before  Milton  came  with  the  boat. 

They  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  old 
gentleman,  who  was  probably  the  owner  of  the 
house  and  the  boat,  rise  from  the  ground,  rub- 
bing his  right  thigh,  for  the  soldiers  did  not 
intend  to  kill  him,  and  Knox  had  told  his  com- 
panion to  aim  at  his  legs.  Doubtless  it  was  the 
shock  of  the  wound  that  had  caused  him  to  fall. 


AN    UP    RIVER    ENTERPRISE    PROJECTED        369 

Life  hastened  to  headquarters  as  soon  as  he 
came  out  of  the  water,  leaving  Fronklyn  and 
Milton  in  charge  of  the  craft,  and  reported  that 
the  boat  was  at  the  watering-place,  ready  for  use. 
It  contained  four  oars  and  a  rudder. 

Captain  Gordon's  company  had  halted  in  front 
of  the  tent,  and  General  Woodbine  had  explained 
to  the  commander  of  it  what  he  was  to  do.  It 
was  arranged  that  one  platoon  should  follow  the 
river  on  each  side,  looking  out  for  enemies ;  and 
they  were  to  keep  as  near  the  stream  as  the 
roads  or  the  condition  of  the  country  would 
permit. 

A  call  was  then  made  upon  the  members  of 
the  body  for  all  men  who  had  had  any  experi- 
ence in  rowing  a  boat  to  manifest  it;  and  about 
a  dozen  signified  that  they  could  row,  and  had 
done  so.  Half  the  number  were  selected  by  Deck, 
after  questioning  them  briefly.  Their  horses  were 
sent  back  to  the  camp,  and  they  were  required 
to  go  up  to  the  boat.  Captain  Lyon  was  under- 
stood to  be  the  leader  of  the  enterprise,  and  the 
officers  were  directed  to  take  their  orders  from 
him. 


370  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

A    SUCCESSFUL  MISSION    UP   THE    STREAM 

Another  expedition,  precisely  like  that  or- 
ganized by  Captain  Lyon,  and  guarded  by  the 
second  company  of  Riverlawns,  was  sent  down 
the  river.  A  long  flat  was  obtained  after  some 
search;  and  Corporal  Milton,  as  the  person  the 
most  familiar  with  boating,  was  appointed  to 
make  the  exploration  in  it,  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  leader  of  the  other  searching-party. 

Deck  and  the  six  oarsmen  for  the  up-river 
trip  went  to  the  watering-place,  followed  by- 
Captain  Gordon's  company.  Lieutenant  Knox 
was  given  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream;  and 
without  any  hesitation  the  platoon  plunged  into 
the  water,  and  went  across  as  readily  as  though 
it  had  been  a  level  piece  of  ground.  The  cap- 
tain wished  he  had  the  six  negroes  who  pulled 
the  Magnolia  on  Green  River  and  Bar  Creek, 
for   they  were   well  trained  to  their  work. 


A   SUCCESSFUL   MISSION   UP   THE    STREAM     371 

He  placed  the  men  on  the  thwarts,  with  one 
of  the  six  in  the  bow,  having  a  pole  to  sound 
the  depth  of  water  from  time  to  time,  and  an- 
other similarly  armed  near  himself  in  the  stern. 
When  he  told  them  to  give  way  they  made  bad 
work  of  their  rowing,  for  they  had  never  pulled 
together,  and  he  was  obliged  to  train  them  be- 
fore they  started ;  but  in  a  few  minutes  they 
did  better. 

The  captain  took  the  tiller-ropes,  and  steered 
the  boat  himself.  He  kept  the  two^'men  sound- 
ing with  their  poles  all  the  time ;  and,  as  the  im- 
plements were  only  six  feet  long,  they  reported 
"  no  bottom,"  as  they  were  instructed  to  do,  for 
the  first  two  miles.  Deck  put  into  use  all  the 
river  craft  he  had  acquired;  and  he  was  sorry 
he  had  not  brought  his  brother  with  him,  but 
he  was  the  orderly  of  the  major,  practically  his 
aid-de-camp,  and  he  did  not  like  to  call  him 
away  from  his  ordinary  duties. 

"  Nothing  but  '  no  bottom  '  so  far,"  said  the 
captain,  as  the  boat  reached  a  widening  of  the 
river  making  quite  a  large  pond. 

"  It  won't  be  so  deep  here,  Captain,"  replied 


372  ON    THE    STAFF 

Walker,  the  trooper  in  the  stern-sheets  with 
him. 

"  There  appears  to  be  no  mud  on  the  shore, 
and  it  looks  like  a  sandy  region,"  added  Deck, 
looking  over  the  banks  of  the  stream. 

As  he  did  so  he  saw  the  platoons  on  each 
side;  and  they  were  keeping  near  the  river,  as 
they  had  been  ordered  to  do. 

"  Under  water  six  feet,"  reported  Beckland 
in  the  bow ;  and  he  appeared  to  have  picked  up 
some  of  the  lingo  of  the  regular  pilots,  for  he 
had  served  as  an  engineer. 

"  What  does  that  mean,  Captain  ?  "  asked 
Walker,  who  had  never  been  a  steamboat  man. 

"It  means  that  the  water  is  a  little  over  six 
feet  deep,  and  that  Beckland  finds  bottom  by 
reaching  his  arm  down  below  the  surface,"  re- 
plied the  captain.  "The  river  is  shoaling,  and 
we  may  find  here  the  place  we  are  looking 
for." 

"  What  are  you  looking  for.  Captain  Lyon  ?  " 
asked  Walker,  for  the  object  of  the  expedition 
had  not  been  explained  to  the  men. 

"  We  are  looking  for  shoal  water,"  returned  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL   MISSION    UP   THE    STKEAM     373 

leader,  without  giving  any  further  information  in 
regard  to  the  object  of  the  expedition. 

Looking  ahead  some  distance,  Deck  saw  the 
platoon  of  Lieutenant  Belthorpe  coming  down  to 
the  shore.  There  was  a  forest  extending  down 
nearly  to  the  water,  where  the  horses  were  drink- 
ing ;  for  they  had  not  swum  the  river,  as  the  other 
platoon  had.  They  stood  on  a  sandy  beach ;  and 
advancing  a  little  farther,  he  discovered  an  open- 
ing in  the  woods  which  looked  like  a  road. 

"  Five  feet !  "  called  Beckland  from  the  bow. 

"  Six  feet !  "  added  Walker. 

"  There  is  a  sharp  pitch  on  the  bottom  here," 
Deck  remarked. 

"Four  feet,"  said  the  bowman. 

"Five  feet,"  Walker  followed. 

"  It  is  shoaling  rapidly,"  said  the  captain. 

"Three  and  a  half  feet,"  continued  Beckland. 

The  oarsmen  continued  to  pull  at  the  oars  in 
the  regular  time  Deck  had  given  them,  and  they 
were  doing  very  well  now.  The  bowman  gave 
the  same  figures  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
and  Walker  reported  the  same.  But  then  the 
depth  increased  till  it  came  back  to  no  bottom. 


374  ON   THE   STAFF 

The  captain  began  to  come  about,  with  the 
head  of  the  boat  inclined  towards  the  shore, 
where  the  platoon  was  moving  along  near  the 
water.  He  continued  to  descend  the  river,  till 
Beckland  again  reported  three  feet  and  a  half. 
Then  he  headed  the  boat  directly  for  the  shore. 
The  cavalry  retraced  their  steps  on  the  sandy 
beach,  and  Captain  Gordon  halted  them  at  the 
point  towards  which  the  boat  was  headed.  In  a 
few  minutes  the  bottom  of  the  keel  grated  in 
the  sand. 

"How  do  you  get  on,  Captain  Lyon?"  asked 
the  commander  of  the  company,  as  he  drove  his 
horse  into  the  water  till  he  was  alongside  the 
stern-sheets. 

"  Very  well ;  but  it  has  been  '  no  bottom '  all 
the  way  up  till  we  came  to  this  pond,"  replied 
Deck.  "  I  want  about  twenty  sticks,  say  an  inch 
in  diameter  and  four  feet  long,  dry,  if  they  can 
be  found." 

"  All  right ;  you  shall  have  them  in  a  few 
minutes,"  replied  the  captain,  as  he  called  Ser- 
geant Yowell  from  the  company,  ordering  him 
to  take    half   a    dozen  men,  and  find  the  sticks 


A   SUCCESSFUL   MISSION    UP   THE   STREAM     375 

required.  "  It  looks  as  though  the  water  was  not 
as  deep  as  it  was  below." 

"It  is  spread  out  here,  and  the  broader  the 
stream,  the  less  the  depth,"  replied  Deck,  as  he 
resumed  his  seat  in  the  boat.  "  Captain  Gor- 
don, I  shall  want  your  men,  or  as  many  of  them 
as  you  choose  to  send,  to  take  to  the  water,  if 
we  are  so  fortunate  as  to  find  anything  that  will 
pass  for  a  ford." 

"  Very  well ;  and,  as  it  is  a  soft,  warm  day,  I 
think  we  will  all  take  a  swim,"  replied  the  com- 
mander of  the  company. 

"I  hope  you  will  not  have  to  swim  your 
horses,"  replied  Deck,  as  he  took  several  fish- 
lines  from  under  the  seat,  and  began  to  unreel 
them. 

"  Are  you  going  fishing.  Captain  Lyon  ?  "  asked 
the  commander  of  the  company,  with  a  laugh. 

"Not  much." 

"  I  was  going  to  say  that  if  you  intend  to 
fish,  you  will  do  better  in  deeper  water  than  it 
is  up  here,"  added  Captain  Gordon. 

"  I  have  other  fish  to  fry  than  those  caught  in 
Duck  River,"  replied  Deck,    as  he   measured  off 


376  ON   THE   STAFF 

about  three  feet  from  one  of  the  lines  after  he 
had  cut  off  the  hooks  and  sinker. 

"  What  do  you  want  of  the  sticks,  Captain  ?  " 

"If  we  are  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  ford  here, 
I  shall  buoy  it  off  so  that  you  can  find  your 
way  over  to  the  other  side,"  replied  Deck,  as 
he  handed  another  of  the  lines  to  Walker,  and 
required  him  to  treat  it  as  he  had  the  firet  one. 

"I  think  I  can  find  my  way  over  to  the  other 
side,  after  I  have  observed  the  course  of  your 
boat,  without  any  buoys,"  added  Captain  Gordon. 

"Then  they  are  for  another  use,"  said  Deck, 
laughing. 

"  Here  are  a  couple  of  men  with  some  of  the 
sticks." 

The  two  men  had  dismounted  in  order  to  do 
what  was  required  of  them ;  and  one  of  the 
mounted  men  brought  off  the  buoys,  as  they 
were  intended  to  be.  Deck  fastened  one  end  of 
a  line  to  the  end  of  a  stick,  and  then  set  the 
men  in  the  boat  to  doing  the  same  thing. 

"I  shall  want  as  many  stones  as  sticks,  weigh- 
ing about  three  pounds  apiece,  Captain  Gordon," 
continued   Deck ;   and    men    were    sent   to    look 


A   SUCCESSFUL   MISSION   UP  THE   STREAM      377 

them  up,  and  one  of  them  had  noticed  a  ledge 
on  the  edge  of  the  woods  where  there  were 
plenty  of  them. 

As  soon  as  some  of  the  stones  came,  Deck  at- 
tached a  few  to  the  ends  of  the  Imes,  so  as  to 
form  an  anchor  for  the  buoys,  to  keep  them 
standing  upright  in  the  water.  When  the  men 
saw  how  it  was  done,  they  did  the  rest  of  them 
as  fast  as  the  stones  came,  and  the  job  was 
soon  completed. 

"  I  will  signal  you  by  waving  my  cap  in  the 
air,  Captain  Gordon,  when  I  am  ready  for  your 
men  to  come  over,"  said  Deck,  as  he  called  to 
his  crew  to  take  their  oars. 

"  All  right,  Captain ;  we  will  be  on  the  look- 
out for  the  signal." 

By  this  time  a  couple  of  farmers  and  some 
boys  had  gathered  on  the  shore  to  see  what  was 
going  on;  but  the  troopers  drove  them  away, 
though  the  captain  had  some  doubts  as  to 
whether  he  had  not  better  put  them  under 
guard,  to  prevent  them  from  bringing  a  force  of 
the  enemy  if  there  were  any  of  them  near 
enough.     Deck  ordered   his    crew    to   give  way, 


378  ON   THE   STAFF 

and  the  two  men  to  sound  as  they  had  done 
before. 

"  Three    feet   and  a  half,"  Beckland   reported. 

Deck  adjusted  the  line,  and  threw  one  of  the 
stones,  with   its    buoy,  over    it    into    the    water. 

The  stick  stood  up  "  like  a  little  man,"  and 
could  be  plainly  seen  from  the  shore.  The  boat 
proceeded,  and  the  buoys  were  anchored  at  suit- 
able distances  from  each  other  till  the  boat 
reached  the  middle  of  the  river. 

"Four  feet,"  Beckland  reported;  and  the 
depth  increased  till  "  No  bottom "  again  became 
the  legend.  This  was  deep  enough  to  drown  the 
infantry  of  the  brigade. 

"It  is  useless  to  go  any  farther  in  this  direc- 
tion," said  Deck,  disappointed  at  the  result  he 
had  just  obtained;  and  he  put  the  boat  about, 
steering  for  the  last  buoy  he  had  anchored. 
"Sound  all  the  time,"  he  added  to  those  who 
were  attending  to  this  duty. 

"Three  feet  and  a  half,"  said  Beckland,  as 
they  approached  the  first  buoy. 

Captain  Lyon  then  began  to  move  the  boat 
up  stream,  and  sounded  in    a   circle    till   he    ob- 


A   SUCCESSFUL   MISSION    UP   THE   STREAM  379 

tained  the  width  of  the  shoal  at  the  bottom, 
and  set  a  buoy  on  each  side  of  it.  Then  get- 
ting over  to  the  middle  of  it,  he  held  a  course 
up  the  river  till  six  feet  was  given  again. 
Backing  the  boat  to  the  shoal,  he  described  an- 
other circle,  which  brought  him  to  three  feet 
and  a  half  again,  nearer  to  Lieutenant  Knox's 
side  of  the  river;  and  he  had  halted  his  pla- 
toon on  a  sandy  beach  like  that  the  boat  had 
just  left. 

The  shoal  now  extended  towards  Life's  side ; 
and  Deck  followed  it  till  three  feet  were  re- 
ported, and  then  a  depth  that  could  be  waded 
by  a  boy  of  ten  years.  He  had  planted  the 
buoys  all  the  way  along  the  tortuous  ford,  and 
now  he  was  within  hailing  distance  of  the  tall 
Kentuckian. 

"  Lieutenant  Knox !  "  shouted  Deck,  as  the 
boat  approached  the  shore. 

"  Captain  Lyon !  "  Life  responded,  with  the 
usual  emphasis  on  the  title. 

"  Be  ready   to    ford  the    river !  "  added  Deck. 

"All  ready!  "  was    the  reply  that  came  back. 

"  March !  "  shouted  the  captain,  as  he  anchored 


380  ON   THE   STAFF 

the  last  buoy  about  a  hundred  feet  from  the 
shore.  "  Oars  !  "  he  added,  and  his  crew  stopped 
pulling;  and  if  they  had  been  in  the  navy  they 
would  have  stood  their  oars  on  end. 

The  platoon  on  the  shore  marched  by  fours 
into  the  river,  and  directed  their  course  towards 
the  boat,  which  came  about  as  they  advanced, 
and  led  the  way,  keeping  the  buoys  on  the  right, 
as  Deck  gave  the  order  to  Knox.  The  way 
was  as  plain  as  a  lighted  street  in  the  evening. 
In  twenty  minutes  the  procession  had  crossed 
the  flood,  and  not  a  horse  had  been  obliged  to 
swim  a  yard,  unless  he  did  it  for  the  fun  of 
it. 

The  company  was  united  on  the  strand;  and 
though  no  one  had  been  told  the  object  of  all 
these  proceedings,  they  all  understood  by  this 
time  the  meaning  of  them,  and  the  men  gave 
three  cheers  as  Deck  got  out  of  the  boat.  If 
he  felt  particularly  happy  at  this  time,  with  his 
completed  mission  a  decided  success,  he  could 
not  be  blamed  for  it.  But  he  was  in  a  hurry 
to  report  to  his  general  the  result  of  the  expe- 
dition ;   and  he  did  not   stop  to    indulge  in  any 


A    SUCCESSFUL   MISSION    UP   THE   STREAM  381 

fine  words,  but  simply  saluted  the  company  when 
they  cheered. 

As  he  had  found  Life's  company  on  the  other 
side,  he  had  not  made  the  signal  agreed  upon 
with  Captain  Gordon,  and  Life's  platoon  had 
tested  the  ford. 

"  This  ford  must  not  be  left  unguarded.  Cap- 
tain Gordon,"  said  Deck,  saluting  the  commander. 
"The  enemy,  or  even  some  of  the  farmers,  who 
are  probably  Secessionists,  may  remove  the  buoys 
in  our  absence." 

"  I  was  just  thinking  of  that,  and  intended 
to  leave  a  guard  on  both  sides  of  the  river,"  re- 
plied the  captain. 

"Then  excuse  me  for  mentioning  it,"  added 
Deck. 

"You  are  the  representative  of  General  Wood- 
bine, and  no  excuse  is  necessary,"  replied  the 
captain  of  the  company  with  a  smile. 

"  If  you  will  designate  the  officer  to  be  in 
charge  of  the  guard,  I  shall  be  glad  to  ride  his 
horse  back  to  the  camp,  and  he  can  take  my 
place  in  the  boat,  where  he  will  be  quite  com- 
fortable," continued  Deck. 


6qz  on  the  staff 

"Lieutenant  Belthorpe,"  said  the  captain. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Tom,"  said  Captain 
Lyon,  as  he  took  the  hand  of  his  friend  and 
neighbor  at  Riverlawn.  "We  don't  meet  as 
often  as  formerly;"  and  he  proceeded  to  mount 
his  steed.  "  You  can  keep  yourself  comfortable 
in  the  boat,  and  see  everything  that  is  going  on 
upon  both  sides  of  the  river." 

Twenty  men  were  detailed  to  guard  the  ford, 
and  Sergeant  Fronklyn  was  sent  across  the  stream 
with  half  of  them.  The  rest  of  the  company 
rode  at  full  speed  back  to  the  headquarters,  at 
the  entrance  of  which  both  Generals  Nelson  and 
Woodbine  were  seated. 


Captain  Lyon  was  invited  into  the  tent." 


Page  383. 


THE   general's    HURRIED   MARCH  383 


CHAPTER   XXX 

THE  general's  HURRIED  MARCH 

The  expedition  had  been  absent  not  more 
than  three  hours,  and  it  was  only  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  Both  the  division  and  the 
brigade  commanders  rose  from  their  stools,  and 
seemed  to  be  greatly  astonished  at  the  early  re- 
turn of  the  company  from  their  mission.  The 
command  was  sent  back  to  the  camp,  and  Cap- 
tain Lyon  was  invited  into  the  tent  with  the 
general  of  division. 

"Well,  Captain  Lyon,  what  success  have  you 
had?"  inquired  General  Nelson,  who  was  an 
impetuous  man,  and  whose  mind  was  fixed  upon 
the  march  he  had  in  view. 

"Perfect  success.  General,"  replied  Deck. 

"You  have  found  a  ford?"  demanded  the  gen- 
eral, and  his  browned  face  had  been  clouded 
with  anxiety. 

"I  have  found  a  ford,  but  it  is  a  crooked  one." 


384  ON   THE   STAFF 

"Six  feet   of  water  on  it  all  the  way?" 

"Not  more  than  three  feet  and  a  half  in  any 
place." 

"  That  is  a  very  reasonable  depth ;  and  you  say 
it  is  crooked,"  added  General  Nelson.  "  But  I 
suppose  you  can  pilot  the  division  across." 

"  You  will  have  no  occasion  for  a  pilot,  Gen- 
eral," answered  Deck,  inclined  to  be  excited,  but 
controlling  himself  with  a  strong  effort,  and  re- 
plying as  quietly  as  though  he  had  been  on  a  pic- 
nic with  less  distinguished  persons. 

"But  you  say  the  ford  is  very  crooked." 

"  It  is  about  like  a  man's  leg,  bent  at  the  knee, 
and  again  at  the  turning  of  the  foot,"  added 
Deck,  as  he  went  to  the  table,  and  made  a  hasty 
diagram  of  the  shape  of  the  shoal  at  the  bottom 
of  the  river,  which  he  presented  to  the  superior 
general,  who  took  it,  and  looked  at  it  with  de- 
cided interest.  "  The  water  above  and  below 
the  shoal  is  six  feet  and  more  in  depth.  The 
report  of  the  man  sounding  on  the  way  up  the 
river  was  '  no  bottom,'  using  a  pole  six  feet  long." 

"  Are  you  a  sailor,  Captain  Lyon  ?  "  asked  the 
general  abruptly.  ! 


THE   general's   HURRIED   MARCH  385 

"I  am  not,  General;  I  never  even  saw  the 
sea  but  once,  and  never  sailed  upon  it,  though  I 
am  somewhat  accustomed  to  the  use  of  boats." 

"  You  use  some  nautical  terms,  I  have  ob- 
served," continued  the  general,  as  he  gave  his 
attention  to  the  diagram  again.  "  But  how  are 
we  to  find  our  way  along  this  crooked  ford,  as 
shown  in  this  drawing,  without  a  pilot  ?  " 

"I  have  buoyed  the  ford  all  the  way  across," 
answered  the  young  captain  as  quietly  as  before. 

"  Buoyed  the  ford !  You  are  a  jewel !  I  can 
understand  now  what  General  Woodbine  has  said 
about  you,  when  I  thought  he  was  overdoing 
the  thing.     How  did  you  buoy  the  ford  ?  " 

Deck  explained  how  he  had  done  it,  and  added 
that  he  should  have  put  a  little  flag  on  the  sticks 
if  he  had  had  the  material  for  them. 

"  Captain  Gordon  left  a  guard  at  the  ford  of 
ten  men  on  each  side  of  the  river,  to  prevent  the 
buoys  from  being  removed  by  the  enemy,"  added 
Deck. 

"How  far  is  the  ford  from  the  camp?" 

"I  judged  that  it  was  about  three  miles." 

"And  the  approaches  to  it?" 


386  ON   THE   STAFF 

"Excellent  on  this  side,  and  L.eutenant  Knox 
reports  a  road  witliin  three  miles  of  the  shore, 
leading  in  one  direction  to  the  Tennessee  and 
Alabama  Railroad,  projected,  but  not  built,  on  the 
other  side,"  replied  Deck. 

"  That  makes  a  very  clear  case  of  it ;  and  I 
thank  you.  Captain  Lyon,  for  your  meritorious 
service,"  said  the  general,  as  he  rose  from  his 
stool,  which  had  been  dancing  on  the  ground 
under  the  excitement  of  the  occupant  some  of 
the  time,  for  his  project  was  a  cherished  one 
to  him. 

Deck  bowed  low  to  the  division  commander, 
who  hastened  out  of  the  tent,  though  he  returned 
from  the  curtain  to  the  table  for  the  diagram  of 
the  ford.  Doubtless  he  intended  to  put  himself 
in  communication  with  General  Buell  as  soon 
as  possible.  At  supper-time  Major  Lyon  ordered 
the  guard  at  the  ford  to  be  relieved,  and  twenty 
men  departed  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Gad- 
bury  to  relieve  the  watchers  at  the  ford. 

The  second  company  had  returned  from  their 
expedition  down  the  river;  and  they  had  found 
what  they  called  a  ford,  though  there  were  over 


THE   general's   HURRIED   MARCH  387 

four  feet  upon  it,  and  the  approaches  to  it 
■were  very  unsatisfactory  for  the  trains.  The 
general  was  already  decided,  and  before  dark 
orders  came  for  the  brigade  to  march  for  the 
ford  at  six  the  next  morning. 

"Things  are  getting  lively  again.  Deck,"  said 
Lieutenant  Herndon  in  the  evening. 

"It  looks  so,"  replied  the  other.  "We  begin 
on  an  eighty-mile  march  to-morrow  morning ;  and 
what  comes  after  that  we  don't  know." 

"Even  the  staff-officers  don't  know  what  is 
going  on  most  of  the  time,"  added  Herndon. 
"  We  don't  know  what  will  come  next ;  and  we 
are  not  likely  to  know  before  we  get  into  the 
midst  of  a  big  battle,  for  I  am  persuaded  there 
is  to  be  one  down  here  somewhere." 

"  I  don't  know  that  it  makes  any  great  differ- 
ence to  us,  anyway ;  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  dis- 
charge the  duty  assigned  to  us,  and  we  shall 
find  out  soon  enough  '  where  we  are  at.'  " 

Deck  was  tired  after  the  exertion  of  the  day, 
and  the  excitement  had  passed  off ;  and  he 
stretched  himself  on  his  bed  of  straw,  with  his 
blanket   spread    over  him,  and  was   soon    asleep. 


388  ON  THE   STAFF 

At  midnight  the  guard  at  the  river  was  re- 
lieved by  Lieutenant  Knox,  and  the  ten  men 
sent  across  the  stream  in  the  darkness,  though 
they  had  light  enough  to  enable  them  to  make 
out  the  buoys. 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  bugles 
began  to  sound  through  the  brigade  camp,  and 
the  "  Assemblies  "  of  the  different  arms  were  all 
mixed  together.  The  men  had  filled  their  hav- 
ersacks the  night  before  with  the  food  to  be 
used  on  the  march,  but  breakfast  was  served 
before  the  start.  At  six  o'clock  the  entire  divis- 
ion was  in  column,  ready  for  the  march  to  the 
ford.  The  trains  were  in  the  rear  of  each  com- 
mand. The  cavalry  of  General  Woodbine's  bri- 
gade went  first,  and  reached  the  ford  in  advance 
of  the  infantry.  Agreeably  to  his  orders.  Ma- 
jor Lyon  stretched  a  line  of  troopers  across  the 
river  on  the  lower  side  of  the  shoal,  so  that 
the  road  for  the  infantry  lay  between  them  and 
the  buoys.  The  passage  of  this  arm  of  the  ser- 
vice was  more  difficult  than  for  mounted  men ; 
for  it  was  not  an  easy  thing  for  men  to  march 
in  three  and  a  half  feet  of  water  on  foot. 


THE   general's   HUEKIED   MARCH  389 

However  brave  men  may  be  on  the  field  of 
battle,  some  may  become  timid  in  the  midst  of 
a  running  river.  They  are  up  to  or  above  their 
middle  in  the  treacherous  element ;  and  on  this 
occasion  two  privates  lost  their  presence  of  mind, 
or  stumbled  over  rocks  on  the  bottom,  and  were 
swept  to  the  cavalry  line  by  the  current,  though 
it  was  not  very  swift  at  the  present  high  stage 
of  the  stream.  They  were  promptly  picked  up, 
and  set  on  their  feet  by  the  troopers,  and  con- 
tinued on  their  way. 

All  the  infantry  passed  safely  over,  and  the 
trains  were  equally  fortunate.  Ammen's  brigade 
was  the  first  to  cross  the  stream ;  and,  coming 
out  of  the  water,  followed  the  road  to  Columbia, 
and  then  continued  on  the  railroad  to  Mount 
Pleasant,  which  was  as  far  as  it  was  built.  The 
details  of  the  march  need  not  be  given.  From 
the  town,  or  hamlet,  it  was  continued  over  the 
narrow  road,  in  poor  condition,  to  Waynesboro, 
from  which  an  ordinary  road  led  to  Savannah, 
where  the  various  divisions  were  to  concentrate. 
General  Nelson,  impetuous  and  impatient,  hur- 
ried his  march  ;   for  he,  if  no   other  general,  be- 


390  ON   THE    STAFF 

lieved  his  division  would  be  needed  to  re-enforce 
the  divisions  under  General  Grant. 

General  Buell  received  no  word  from  General 
Grant  to  the  effect  that  he  needed  additional 
troops  from  the  army  of  the  former;  and  he 
had  obtained  permission  from  General  Halleck 
to  halt  at  Waynesboro  to  rest  his  army  and  to 
"brush  up,"  so  that  his  forces  should  be  in  good 
condition  to  meet  the  other  divisions  of  the 
Union  army  at  Savannah.  General  Nelson  had 
not  been  informed  of  this  purpose  to  rest ;  and 
he  hurried  on  at  his  break-neck  gait,  intent  only 
upon  rendering  the  needed  aid  to  General  Grant. 

Some  twenty  miles  below  Savannah,  on  the 
Tennessee,  was  Hamburg  Landing,  and  General 
Buell  was  considering  the  propriety  of  sending 
a  portion  of  his  force  to  this  place ;  but  the 
rapid  movements  of  General  Nelson  defeated  this 
project,  as  well  as  the  rest  at  Waynesboro.  It 
required  six  miles  of  road  to  enable  a  division 
to  move  freely.  The  hurry  of  the  general  of  the 
fourth  division  had  been  communicated  to  the 
other  commands  in  the  rear,  and  they  had  passed 
the  point  for  rest  before  any  orders  reached  them. 


THE   general's   HTJKEIED   MARCH  391 

At  Columbia,  General  Buell  received  his  first 
information  that  General  Grant  was  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Tennessee.  The  fourth  division  had 
the  head  of  the  marching  columns,  and  had  left 
Columbia  on  the  morning  of  March  29.  The 
bridge  over  Duck  River  was  finished  that  day ; 
and  two  days  later  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  be- 
gan to  move,  with  sufficient  interval  between  the 
divisions  to  prevent  confusion  on  the  narrow  and 
inadequate  roads.  The  rapid  movement  of  the 
fourth  division,  leading  the  van  of  the  great 
Lost,  though  the  repose  and  brushing  up  at 
Waynesboro  was  defeated  by  it,  stimulated  the 
speed  of  the  forces  behind  him ;  and  they  were 
too  late  to  receive  the  orders  of  the  general-in- 
chief  to  halt. 

Telegraphic  communication  between  General 
Grant  and  General  Nelson  was  opened  April  3, 
and  the  commander  of  the  fourth  division  sent 
a  message  that  his  force  could  be  in  Savannah 
on  the  5th ;  but  the  former  replied  that  he  need 
not  hurry  his  march,  for  the  transport  steamers 
to  convey  his  command  across  the  river  would 
not  be  ready  till  the  8th.     But  the  general  seems 


392  ON  THE  STAFF 

to  have  been  wrought  up  to  such  a  pitch  as  to 
be  incapable  of  reducing  the  speed  of  his  bat- 
talions, and  he  hurried  on  with  as  much  vigor 
as  before. 

It  is  not  to  be  believed  that  the  impetuous 
general  had  any  special  inspiration  or  miracu- 
lous foreknowledge  of  events ;  but  General  John- 
ston was  at  that  time  marching  his  entire  army 
from  Corinth,  with  the  intention  of  wiping  out 
the  army  of  General  Grant  before  General  Buell 
could  re-enforce  him.  General  Nelson  seems  to 
have  been  the  "  right  man  in  the  right  place," 
whether  it  was  by  the  accident  of  his  impetu- 
osity, or  a  special  Providence,  in  the  salvation 
of  the  Union. 

On  the  4th  and  5th  of  April  it  rained  in 
torrents  about  all  the  time,  and  the  roads,  never 
good,  were  out  up  and  broken  up  so  as  to  be 
almost  impassable ;  but  the  resolute  commander 
kept  on  his  course  as  though  the  ground  were 
frozen,  and  the  weather  were  that  of  a  dry 
June,  and  reached  Savannah  on  the  5  th,  the 
day  before  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  or 
Sliiloh,  had  begun. 


THE   general's    HURRIED   MARCH  393 

In  the  face  of  General  Nelson's  apparently 
prophetic  vision,  it  seems  to  be  an  established 
fact  that  General  Halleck,  the  superior  officer 
of  all  the  generals  present  or  absent,  General 
Grant,  and  the  able  commanders  on  the  field 
where  the  great  battle  was  fought,  had  not  the 
most  distant  idea  that  the  enemy  would  advance 
in  force  from  Corinth.  General  Halleck  was  still 
in  St.  Louis,  though  he  intended  to  command 
the  concentrated  armies  of  the  Union  in  the 
attack  upon  Corinth. 

General  Sherman,  the  right-hand  man  of  Gen- 
eral Grant,  informed  him  that  the  enemy  had 
cavalry  in  front  of  the  lines,  and  he  thought 
there  were  two  regiments  and  a  battery  six  miles 
distant,  but  he  did  not  apprehend  any  attack. 
The  battle  came  off  several  days  before  it  was 
expected  to  occur,  if  at  all ;  and  General  Halleck 
had  appointed  his  day  to  leave  St.  Louis  the  day 
after  the  burden  of  the  battle  had  been  fought. 

General  Nelson  was  at  Savannah  on  the  5th 
of  April ;  and  the  fifth  division  under  General 
Crittenden  arrived  the  same  night,  and  encamped 
several  miles  distant.     But  no  one  expected  that 


394  ON   THE   STAFF 

one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war  was  to  be 
fought  the  next  day.  The  troops  were  wet,  and 
the  country  was  partially  flooded  from  the  heavy 
rains.  It  was  not  a  good  preparation  for  a  ter- 
rible combat,  and  thousands  who  thought  of 
happy  homes  far  distant  from  the  awful  scene 
of  carnage  slept  their  last  sleep  on  the  bloody 
field  before  another  night  closed  upon  them. 

"This  is  not  exactly  comfortable,  Frank,"  said 
Deck,  as  they  met  in  the  tent  of  General  Wood- 
bine after  the  duties  of  the  day  were  done. 

"I  don't  think  it  is,  and  I  almost  wish  I  was 
at  home  in  my  father's  house  by  a  good  light 
wood-fire,"  replied  Frank. 

"  I  feel  as  much  like  grumbling  as  I  ever  did 
in  my  life  ;  but  we  are  here  in  the  cause  of  the 
blessed  Union,  and  if  we  fail  to  do  our  duty 
the  United  States  will  cease  to  exist ;  and  I 
often  feel  as  though  the  whole  work  of  the  war 
rested  on  my  shoulders,  and  I  will  not  growl  at 
anything,"  added  Deck,  more  serious  than  usual. 

The  general  came  in,  and  they  all  went  to 
their  uncomfortable  beds. 


THE   FlUST   DAY   AT   PITTSBUEG  LANDING      395 


CHAPTER   XXXI 

THE    FIRST    DAY    AT    PITTSBURG    LANDING 

General  Buell  arrived  at  Savannah  on  the 
same  day  that  the  fourth  division  did,  and  he 
had  an  appointment  to  meet  General  Grant  on 
the  following  day.  On  the  morning  of  April 
6th,  both  generals  were  at  this  town,  nine  or 
ten  miles  below  the  scene  of  the  battle.  The 
commander  of  the  army  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river  was  taking  an  early  breakfast  with  his  staff, 
in  readiness  for  his  meeting  with  General  Buell. 
The  sound  of  booming  guns  was  heard  while 
they  were  so  engaged ;  and,  instead  of  going  to 
meet  him,  he  wrote  a  hurried  note  to  him,  and 
hastened  up  the  river  to  join  his  command. 

On  the  Friday  before,  the  horse  of  the  com- 
manding general  had  fallen  in  the  roughness  and 
among  the  pitfalls  of  the  region ;  and  his  rider 
had  been  thrown  under  him,  and  was  severely 
injured,  or  what  would  have  been  severely  at  any 


396  ON   THE   STAFF 

other  time.  He  was  in  great  pain  for  a  few  days, 
and  was  partially  disabled  for  a  week ;  but  he 
did  not  intermit  his  labors  in  the  cause  in  which 
he  was  engaged. 

Hastening  to  the  river,  he  went  on  board  of  a 
steamer,  and  started  for  the  field,  ready  for  any 
emergency  that  might  be  presented  to  him.  On 
the  way  he  stopped  at  Crump's  Landing,  sent  a 
message  to  General  Lew  Wallace,  who  was  there 
with  his  division  of  five  thousand  men,  and  later 
another  to  General  Nelson,  to  hasten  forward 
with  their  commands.  On  his  arrival  at  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  he  rushed  to  the  front  as  rapidly 
as  his  horse  could  bear  him.  He  found  the  sit- 
uation not  as  hopeful  as  he  could  desire.  It  has 
been  said  that  he  was  surprised  by  the  enemy; 
and  in  one  sense  this  was  true.  Neither  he  nor 
any  of  the  other  generals,  including  General  Hal- 
leck  at  St.  Louis,  who  intended  to  lead  the  com- 
bined armies  in  an  attack  upon  the  enemy  at 
Corinth,  anticipated  a  pitched  battle  where  it 
occurred,  or  anywhere  else  except  at  Corinth. 
General  Grant  was  surprised  to  find  the  whole 
Confederate  army  in  that  section  under  General 


THE   FIRST   DAY   AT   PITTSBURG   LANDING       397 

Johnston  in  front  of  him ;  but  he  was  not  sur- 
prised in  the  ordinary  and  technical  sense  of  the 
word,  for  there  had  been  skirmishing  with  tlie 
enemy's  pickets  for  several  days. 

On  that  bright  and  quiet  Sunday  morning  the 
battle    began,  and    the    commander  of   the    force 
was  at  the  front.     In  his  note  to  General  Buell, 
with   his    apology   for   not    meeting    him   as    ar- 
ranged, he  ordered  General  Nelson's    division  to 
be  moved   to  a  point  "opposite  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing."    No  other   division  was  mentioned   in    the 
note,  indicating  that  General  Grant  did   not  ex- 
pect such  an  engagement  as  that  which  followed. 
General  Nelson  was  eager  to  obey  the  order ; 
and  he  sought  to  find  a  guide  for  his  command 
to    the    point   indicated,  but   none   could   be    ob- 
tained.    He  sent  Captain  Kendrick    of   his  staff 
to  explore  the  region,  and  find  a  practicable  route 
to    the    battlefield.     During   the  absence   of   this 
officer,  the  sound  of   booming  guns  had    become 
more    distinct   and    significant,    and    indicated   a 
general  battle.     The  impatience  of  the  fiery  com- 
mander of  the  fourth    division  may  be  imagined 
when  Captain  Kendrick  did  not  return  till  noon. 


398  ON  THE   STAFF 

He  reported  that  the  road  near  the  river  had 
been  overflowed  by  the  recent  heavy  rain,  and 
was  not  in  condition  for  use. 

The  captain  also  reported  another  road  which 
was  practicable  for  infantry  and  cavalry,  but  not 
for  artillery  and  trains.  By  this  time  a  guide 
had  been  found,  and  the  division  was  put  in  rapid 
motion.  The  roar  of  the  heavy  guns  became 
more  distinct,  and  all  the  evidences  of  a  great 
battle  were  clear  enough.  The  gunboats  were 
firing  at  the  flanks  of  the  enemy ;  and  the  din 
from  the  distance  was  fearful  to  the  impatient 
soldiers,  anxious  to  take  a  hand  in  the  conflict. 

Unhappily,  all  in  that  terrible  fight  were  not 
so  anxious  to  be  in  the  thickest  of  it.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  battle  the  Union  army  consisted 
of  thirty-three  thousand  men,  with  General  Wal- 
lace's five  thousand  at  Crump's  Landing.  The 
Confederate  army  under  General  Johnston  were 
reported  by  General  Beauregard  at  forty  thou- 
sand. Vast  numbers  of  the  Union  troops  were 
direct  from  their  shops  and  farms,  and  were  not 
sufficiently  drilled  and  seasoned  to  war  to  be 
steady  and  reliable  in  such  a  fierce  conflict. 


\ 


THE   FIRST   DAY   AT   PITTSBURG   LANDING       399 

The  onslaught  and  slaughter  had  been  terri- 
ble ;  and  it  was  estimated  that  six  to  eight  thou- 
sand of  them  were  demoralized,  and  fled  from 
the  field,  crouching  for  safety  under  the  banks 
of  the  river,  or  in  the  creeks  that  flowed  across 
the  battlefield.  But,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
nearly  or  quite  a  fourth  part  of  the  army  had 
fled  in  terror  from  the  bloody  onslaught  of  the 
enemy,  the  lines  were  only  temporarily  broken, 
and  the  gaps  were  speedily  filled  by  troops  who 
had  been  hardened  to  such  terrific  scenes. 

It  was  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when 
General  Nelson  succeeded  in  sending  Ammen's 
brigade  over  the  river  with  a  portion  of  the  cav- 
alry of  the  division.  Later  in  the  day  the  rest  of 
the  fourth  were  ferried  over  to  the  battlefield. 
The  sight  that  greeted  them  as  they  approached 
the  west  shore  of  the  river  was  appalling  beyond 
description,  with  thousands  of  demoralized  and 
trembling  soldiers  in  such  shelter  from  shot,  shell, 
and  bullets  as  they  could  find,  while  the  roar  of 
the  conflict  still  sounded  not  far  from  them. 

"  This  is  horrible  !  "  exclaimed  Lieutenant 
Herndon,  as  the  steamer  approached  the  shore. 


400  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  am  sorry  to  know  that  these  men  have  de- 
serted the  field,"  replied  Captain  Lyon. 

"  You  can  hardly  wonder  at  it,  Deck ;  for  I 
suppose  they  are  like  so  many  who  have  been 
brought  into  the  field  in  face  of  the  enemy,  with 
little  or  no  drill  or  training,  and  it  is  a  terrible 
thing  for  a  green  soldier  to  stand  up  before  a 
volley  from  the  enemy,  with  artillery  blazing  at 
them,  as  we  can  judge  that  it  was  from  the  sounds 
that  have  reached  our  ears." 

"  I  can  pity  without  blaming  them,  for  it  was 
a  fearful  ordeal  for  men  such  as  you  describe," 
replied  Deck.  "As  I  heard  my  father  say  in  a 
speech  to  the  men,  it  requires  a  moral  force  be- 
hind the  physical  to  enable  a  soldier  to  stand  up 
before  the  enemy,  facing  death  and  mangling 
wounds,  without  flinching.  We  have  always 
found  that  the  most  ignorant  and  rufiianly  men 
make  the  most  unreliable  soldiers.  As  father 
said,  it  is  the  soul  rather  than  the  body  that 
makes  the  true  soldier." 

"  You  are  quite  correct,  and  Major  Lyon  is  one 
of  the  best  specimens  of  the  well-informed  officer; 
but  we  are  close  to  the  shore,  and   I   think  we 


THE   FIRST   DAY   AT   PITTSBURG   LANDING       401 

have  a  chance  to  apply  the  philosophy  of  your 
worthy  father,"  added,  the  lieutenant,  as  they  pre- 
pared to  land  in  advance  of  the  infantry,  being  on 
their  horses  on  the  forecastle  of  the  steamer. 

The  battle-ground  lay  between  Lick  Creek  on 
the  north  and  Snake  Creek  on  the  south,  and 
was  nearly  surrounded  by  them.  The  brigade 
landed,  and  moved  with  all  speed  to  the  heat  of 
the  action ;  and  if  it  had  ceased  there,  the  vic- 
tory would  have  been  theirs  ;  but  it  did  not  cease 
there,  as  the  Confederates  evidently  believed  it 
would ;  for  the  night  was  coming  on,  and  they 
certainly  had  the  advantage  at  this  time.  In  the 
hope  and  expectation  of  finishing  the  hard-fought 
battle  of  the  day,  the  right  of  their  line  under 
General  Bragg  had  been  hurled  against  the  left 
of  General  Grant's  line  ;  and  the  crisis  of  the  fight 
seemed  to  be  at  this  point. 

With  ringing  cheers  Ammen's  brigade  marched 
up  the  Corinth  road,  proving  that  the  sickening 
sight  of  the  stragglers  by  the  river  had  not  de- 
moralized them,  but  appeared  rather  to  have 
increased  their  courage  and  resolution.  General 
Bragg's  assault  had  become  a  partial  success ;  and 


402  ON  THE   STAFF 

the  fortune  of  the  day  was  wavering  at  this  point, 
for  it  was  only  necessary  to  push  back  the  Union 
left  the  eighth  of  a  mile  for  the  enemy  to  reach 
Pittsburg  Landing,  and  then  the  Federal  army 
could  no  longer  hold  its  position. 

The  Riverlawn  Cavalry  led  the  march;  and  the 
Marions  had  been  left  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  for  the  boat  had  not  space  enough  on 
its  deck  for  them.  An  unsupported  battery  was 
in  sight,  and  General  Woodbine  ordered  his  bri- 
gade in  that  direction.  Major  Lyon  was  at  the 
head  of  his  column,  with  Captain  Gordon  near 
him.  The  general  of  brigade  was  on  the  left 
flank,  near  the  ravine,  which  had  flooded  its 
bank,  and  was  a  broad  sheet  of  water. 

As  the  head  of  the  column  approached  the 
battery,  which  was  playing  on  the  thickest  of 
the  assaulting  command.  Captain  Gordon  sud- 
denly dropped  from  his  horse ;  but  he  was  not 
killed,  for  he  tried  to  stand  up  after  he  struck 
the  ground.  He  was  borne  by  a  couple  of 
troopers  to  the  brink  of  the  ravine,  and  placed 
in  the  shadow  of  a  solitary  tree. 

"  Captain  Lyon !  "  shouted  the  general. 


I 


THE   FIRST   DAY   AT   PITTSBURG   LANDING       403 

"  Here,  General,"  replied  Deck,  riding  up  to 
him,  for  he  was  some  distance  in  advance  of 
him,  and  saluting  him  as  though  they  were  still 
in  camp. 

"Take  the  command  of  the  first  company  of 
your  cavalry !  "  added  the  brigadier  decidedly 
and  earnestly,  for  he  was  fully  in  the  spirit  of 
the  occasion. 

Deck  saluted  him  in  reply;  and  pressing  his 
heels  against  the  flanks  of  liis  steed,  for  he  wore 
only  dummy  spurs,  Ceph  galloped  forward  at  his 
best  speed  in  spite  of  the  soft  ground  beneath 
him,  and  the  rider  was  soon  in  the  presence  of 
his  father. 

"I  am  ordered  by  the  general  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  firet  company,"  said  he,  when  he 
had  saluted  the  major. 

"  Very  well ;  do  your  duty,  Dexter,"  replied 
the  major,  speaking  this  time  rather  as  the  father 
than  as  the  military  superior.  "A  company  of 
cavalry  is  hastening  towards  the  battery." 

The  enemy  had  seen  that  this  battery  was  not 
supported,  and  the  cavalry  had  evidently  been 
sent  to  capture  it.     Probably  the  force  that  had 


404  ON   THE   STAFF 

been  posted  with  it  for  its  protection  had  fled 
in  terror,  as  so  many  thousands  did  that  day. 
The  foe  wanted  those  guns  for  a  trophy,  if 
nothing  more,  and  the  opportunity  was  favorable 
for  them. 

"Company  —  attention  !  "  shouted  Deck  at  the 
top  of  his  lungs.  "Gallop  —  march!  To  the 
charge !  " 

This  command  was  received  by  the  members 
of  the  first  company  with  a  volley  of  vigorous 
cheers,  and  the  captain  felt  that  the  men  had  not 
been  demoralized  or  disheartened  by  the  pitiable 
sights  they  had  seen  on  the  march.  No  doubt 
they  were  all  grieved  at  the  fall  of  their  cap- 
tain, but  they  had  no  time  to  think  of  this. 
They  knew  the  temporary  captain,  and  they  had 
seen  him  in  some  desperate  encounters  with 
mounted  men. 

The  Confederate  cavalry  were  galloping  madly 
down  a  slope,  stimulated  by  the  hope  of  imme- 
diate victory.  Ammen's  brigade  opened  a  steady 
and  deadly  fire  upon  the  infantry  in  front  of 
them,  but  gave  no  attention  to  the  cavalry.  The 
battery  kept  up  its  fire  of  shells ;   and  one  passed 


I 


THE   FIEST    DAY    AT   PITTSBURG   LANDING      405 

through  the  approaching  company  of  mounted 
men,  and  not  a  few  of  them  dropped  from  their 
horses.  But  they  did  not  seem  to  be  appalled 
by  this  misfortune,  and  dashed  forward  with 
even  more  vigor  than  before,  evidently  with 
the  intention  of  stilling  the  guns  by  capturing 
them. 

Deck  led  his  company  forward  past  the  guns, 
meeting  the  enemy  at  the  foot  of  the  slope.  Gen- 
eral Woodbine  rode  forward  at  the  same  time, 
and  ordered  Major  Lyon  to  send  the  second  com- 
pany to  the  left  of  the  first,  where  there  was  space 
enough  to  enable  them  to  fall  upon  the  right 
of  the  company,  thus  outnumbering  them  two 
to  one.  Captain  Truman  moved  forward  in 
obedience  to  this  order  just  as  the  first  struck 
the  enemy. 

Deck  saw  that  the  captain  of  the  company  rode 
at  the  left  of  his  command,  and  quite  up  to  the 
front  of  it.  He  felt,  with  a  captain's  commis- 
sion in  his  pocket,  he  could  not  do  less  than  take 
a  similar  position  on  the  right  of  the  first  River- 
lawn.  He  scrutinized  very  closely  the  face  and 
form  of  the  officer  on  the  other  side.     He  thought 


406  ON   THE   STAFF 

from  his  uniform  that  he  might  be  a  Texan 
Ranger,  but  he  had  never  seen  him  before. 

He  was  a  young  man,  hardly  more  than 
twenty,  with  a  handsome  face ;  but  he  was 
rather  under  than  over  medium  size,  and  he 
rode  a  small  horse,  like  some  other  Texans 
he  had  met.  His  face  was  rather  pale,  and  it 
was  evident  to  Deck  that  he  was  hardly  equal 
to  the  hardships  of  campaign  life.  His  company 
were  using  the  Confederate  yell  for  all  it  was 
worth,  which  the  Union  troopers  had  heard 
before,  and  they  were  not  intimidated  by  it. 
The  young  captain  was  yelling  with  them,  and 
Deck  realized  that  he  was  a  brave  fellow. 

"  Cheer,  my  men !  "  shouted  Deck,  as  they 
approached  the  enemy,  and  his  troopers  drowned 
the  yell  of  the  enemy. 

As  they  scraped  their  throats  with  the  vigor 
of  their  cry,  they  fell  upon  their  opponents,  who 
had  doubtless  been  fighting  all  day,  while  they 
were  fresh  from  the  camp.  It  was  a  tremendous 
onslaught  they  made,  and  the  foe  shook  before 
it  The  captain  shouted  furiously  at  his  com- 
mand as  the  men  wavered  before  the  shock.     He 


THE   FIRST   DAY   AT   PITTSBURG    LANDING      407 

seemed,  to  be  a  favorite  with  them;  for  they 
heeded  his  appeals,  aud  defended  themselves  with 
renewed  energy. 

Men  fell  to  the  ground  on  both  sides,  sabres 
clashed,  and  revolvers  snapped  in  the  fight.  The 
Confederate  captain  seemed  to  be  mad,  and  he 
had  a  great  deal  of  vim  in  his  composition.  Sud- 
denly, as  though  he  desired  to  give  his  men  a 
specimen  of  what  they  ought  to  do,  he  galloped 
his  horse  to  the  spot  where  Deck  was  watching 
the  conflict,  and  struck  a  fierce  blow  at  him  with 
his  sabre. 


408  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

THE   FINAL   RESULT    OF    THE   GREAT    BATTLE 

Captain  Lyon  was  almost  sorry  that  this 
brave  young  officer  had  determined  to  have  a 
personal  encounter  with  him ;  for  several  affairs 
of  this  kind  had  given  him  a  confidence  in  him- 
self, and  quite  as  much  in  his  horse,  which  made 
him  feel  in  the  beginning  that  the  young  Confed- 
erate captain  would  get  the  worst  of  it.  He 
had  seen  that  Deck  was  giving  orders  to  his 
men,  and  stimulating  them  to  renewed  exertions; 
and  very  likely,  if  he  were  out  of  the  way,  the 
path  to  victory  would  be  clearer  to  his  command. 

Deck  readily  parried  the  sabre-stroke  of  the 
captain,  and  with  several  strokes  with  his  wea- 
pon compelled  the  brave  fellow  to  back  away  a 
little  from  him.  But  he  immediately  recovered 
his  vim,  and  made  another  bold  dash  at  his  op- 
ponent, who  quickened  his  cuts,  and  was  deter- 
mined to  bring    down  his  foe.      The    Riverlawn 


FINAL  RESULT   OF   THE   GREAT   BATTLE        409 

found  that  he  had  his  hands  full,  and  he  decided 
to  depend  a  little  more  upon  the  energies  of 
Ceph. 

Under  the  criticisms  of  his  superior  officers, 
he  had  before  decided  not  to  resort  to  his  pecu- 
liar tactics  unless  in  a  case  of  emergency,  as  he 
deemed  the  present  moment  to  be.  He  manipu- 
lated his  rein  with  his  left  hand,  and  pressed 
his  horse's  flanks  with  the  dummy  spurs,  as  he 
did  when  he  wanted  him  to  leap  over  any  object. 
Ceph  understood  him  as  plainly  as  though  he 
had  the  use  of  language,  and  the  word  had  been 
spoken  to  him.  The  signal  was  given  at  a 
favorable  moment,  just  as  he  had  parried  a  vig- 
orous cut  of  his  opponent ;  and  Ceph  mounted  on 
his  hind  feet,  and  came  down  on  the  captain  as 
his  rider  gave  him  a  terrible  blow  with  his  sabre 
on  the  head.  Man  and  horse  went  down  to- 
gether ;  and  the  officer  did  not  move  again,  though 
his  steed  scrambled  to  his  feet,  and  darted  off 
with  his  rider's  left  foot  entangled  in  the  stirrup. 

Just  as  Captain  Lyon  was  achieving  this  feat. 
Captain  Truman's  company  struck  the  flank  of 
the  enemy,  and  began  to  cut  their  way  through 


410  ON   THE    STAFF 

the  force  as  the  men  were  turned  aside  by  the 
tremendous  onslaught  of  the  fresh  troopers.  The 
acting  second  Heutenant,  Life  Knox,  with  his 
great  strength,  brought  a  man  down  every  time 
he  struck  with  his  sabre.  His  long  arms  kept 
his  enemy  at  a  distance  till  the  foe  was  tumbled 
from  his  horse.  It  was  plain  enough  to  the 
first  lieutenant  of  the  Confederate  company,  who 
succeeded  to  the  command,  that  all  his  men 
would  be  cut  down  if  he  did  not  retreat,  and 
he  gave  the  order  to  do  so. 

General  Bragg  was  laboring  under  a  great 
disadvantage  in  his  attack  upon  the  Federal  left ; 
for  on  his  right  was  the  ravine,  flooded  by  the 
recent  rains  and  the  back  water  from  the  river. 
It  was  deep  and  not  fordable,  and  he  could  not 
attack  the  extremity  of  the  line.  The  gunboats 
Tyler  and  Lexington  were  sending  enormous 
shells  into  the  midst  of  his  force  whenever  it 
could  be  done  without  detriment  to  the  Union 
army.  The  fresh  troops  in  this  part  of  the  field 
fought  like  heroes  ;  and  Hurlbut's  division  held 
their  own,  though  the  men  had  been  fighting  all 
day. 


FINAL   RESULT   OF   THE   GREAT   BATTLE        411 

All  these  forces  combined  defeated  General 
Bragg,  and  left  the  Union  army  on  the  field, 
though  not  on  the  ground  they  had  occupied  in 
the  morning,  for  they  had  been  driven  a  consid- 
erable distance  toward  Pittsburg  Landing.  As 
the  sun  went  down  upon  the  bloody  battlefield, 
and  the  darkness  concealed  the  carnage  of  one 
of  the  most  desperate  fights  of  the  war,  the  field 
had  been  won  by  neither  of  the  combatants, 
though  the  advantage  was  with  the  Confeder- 
ates, who  believed  that  they  would  complete  the 
victory  for  their  side  on  the  following  day. 

All  night  long  the  gunboats  threw  their  heavy 
shells  into  the  camps  of  the  enemy;  and  the  roar 
of  the  guns,  with  another  drenching  rain,  pre- 
vented the  exhausted  soldiers  from  obtaining  the 
repose  they  so  much  needed.  General  Grant 
was  anxious,  to  say  the  least,  in  regard  to  the 
situation ;  though  he  had  a  reasonable  confidence 
in  the  result  of  the  battle  the  next  day,  and  he 
had  good  reason  to  do  so,  for  General  Buell's 
army  was  with  him. 

The  enemy  were  not  yet  aware  that  the  Army 
of  the  Ohio  had  arrived,  though  some    of    their 


412  ON   THE   STAFF 

ofificers  suspected  that  fresh  troops  had  been 
brought  into  the  first  day's  battle.  General 
Grant,  though  somewhat  disabled,  went  to  the 
headquarters  of  every  general  on  the  field,  and 
gave  his  orders  personally  for  the  next  day ; 
and  it  was  midnight  before  he  had  completed 
his  round  of  visits,  and  returned  to  the  Land- 
ing, where  he  lay  down  on  the  wet  ground, 
with  his  head  on  a  stump  for  a  pillow,  and 
slept  soundly  till  morning,  not  disturbed  by  the 
roar  from  the  gunboats. 

Deck  camped  with  the  first  company  that 
night,  though  they  had  no  tents,  nor  anything 
to  eat  except  what  they  carried  in  their  haver- 
sacks. He  had  received  several  slight  wounds 
in  his  encounter  with  the  Confederate  captain, 
which  had  been  dressed  by  Dr.  Farnwright. 
Captain  Gordon  had  been  brought  to  the  camp 
of  his  company,  if  a  mere  resting-place  deserved 
that  name. 

"  How  is  the  captain.  Doctor?  "  asked  Deck, 
when  he  obtained  his  first  sight  of  the  surgeon. 

"  He  is  badly  wounded ;  but  I  think  he  will 
recover  with   proper   care,    which   is    almost   im- 


FINAL   RESULT   OF   THE    GREAT    BATTLE        413 

possible  to  give  him  in  such  a  place  as  this,  where 
he  has  not  even  a  bed  of  straw  to  rest  upon," 
replied  the  doctor.  "  But  his  men  have  done 
the  best  they  could  for  him.  They  have  made 
a  tent  on  poles  for  him  with  their  blankets,  and 
gathered  moss  and  dried  grass  for  his  bed." 

"  I  saw  him  fall,  and  felt  as  though  a  ball 
had  gone  through  my  own  heart ;  for  Captain 
Gordon  was  my  best  friend  outside  of  the  fam- 
ily. I  learned  about  everything  I  know  of  mil- 
itary affairs  from  him,  and  he  has  always  been 
kind  to  me.  Where  is  he  wounded.  Dr.  Farn- 
wright?"  asked  Deck. 

"  On  the  head ;  and  the  ball  must  have  struck 
him  on  the  skull  over  the  left  eye,  and  come 
diagonally  from  some  point  below  him.  But  I 
think  he  will  recover  if  he  gets  out  of  this 
place." 

"  Have  you  many  other  patients.  Doctor  ?  " 

"  I  have  had  more  than  I  could  well  care  for ; 
and  some  of  them  are  in  a  very  bad  condition, 
and  will  die  before  morning." 

"  I  suppose  nothing  is  known  yet  who  were 
killed,  or  left  on  the  field,"  added  Deck. 


414  OIT  THE   STAFF 

"  You  were  present  when  the  roll  of  the  first 
company  was  called,  Captain  Lyon." 

"  Twenty-two  were  missing  in  the  first,"  added 
Deck. 

"  And  I  have  more  than  twice  that  number 
on  the  hospital  list,  though  I  don't  think  the 
count  is  correct.  The  second  company  have 
eighteen  missing,  but  only  twenty-six  wounded, 
if  the  count  is  correct;  for  I  have  not  had  time 
to  attend  to  these  matters,"  replied  the  surgeon. 

"  Do  you  know  anything  about  my  father  and 
brother  ?  "  Deck  inquired. 

"  Neither  of  them  is  hurt,  I  think,  for  I  have 
not  been  called  to  either ;  but  Sandy  Lyon,  your 
cousin  I  believe,  has  a  sabre-cut  on  his  left 
shoulder.  All  the  men  are  talking  about  you, 
Captain,"  added  the  surgeon  with  a  smile.  "  They 
say  you  finished  a  captain  of  cavalry  by  leaping 
your  horse  upon  him,  as  you  did  in  the  fight  at 
the  cross-roads." 

"  I  was  sorry  for  the  captain,  for  he  was  a 
bright  fellow;  but  he  compelled  me  to  kill  him, 
for  he  did  not  move  after  he  went  down  with 
his  horse,  and  was  dragged  away  by  the  animal, 


FINAL   KESULT    OF   THE   GREAT   BATTLE        415 

with  his  foot  caught  in  the  stirrup,"  replied 
Deck. 

"  I  think  you  need  not  apologize  for  it,  Cap- 
tain." 

"  I  don't  apologize  for  doing  my  duty,  but  I 
was  sorry  for  the  young  man." 

The  surgeon  had  to  return  to  his  patients ;  and 
Deck  was  tired  enough  to  think  of  his  bed  at 
Riverlawn,  and  even  to  wish  for  his  couch  of 
straw  on  the  ground ;  but  he  did  the  best  he 
could,  and  the  blanket  kept  him  warm.  He  slept 
as  soundly  as  the  chief  of  the  army,  for  he 
did  not  wake  till  the  trumpets  were  sounding 
in  the  morning. 

Both  armies  were  confident  of  victory  on  the 
second  day.  General  A.  S.  Johnston,  one  of 
the  bravest  and  most  accomplished  generals  in 
the  Confederate  army,  had  fallen  on  the  first  day 
at  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ;  and  he 
had  been  succeeded  in  the  command  by  General 
Beauregard,  who  was  so  much  elated  by  the 
advantage  gained  by  his  forces,  that  he  felt  sure 
of  the  victory  the  following  day  ;  and  he  tele- 
graphed  such  messages    to  Richmond    that    Mr. 


416  ON   THE   STAFF 

Davis  issued  a  congratulatory  message  to  the 
Confederate  Congress,  announcing  the  total  de- 
feat and  rout  of  the  army  of  General  Grant. 

Late  in  the  evening  General  Nelson  succeeded 
in  bringing  over  the  river  the  rest  of  his  divis- 
ion. During  the  night  Crittenden's  and  Mc- 
Cook's  divisions  were  added  to  the  force.  By 
a  series  of  misunderstandings,  General  Lew  Wal- 
lace's division,  which  had  been  prevented  from 
being  present  at  the  battle,  came  down  from 
Crump's  Landing ;  and  he  has  been  very  unjustly 
blamed  for  his  absence,  when  the  fault  was  with 
his  superiors. 

General  Buell  placed  the  fourth  division  very 
near  the  spot  where  the  Riverlawns  had  defeated 
the  enemy's  cavalry ;  though  Major  Lyon  did  not 
pride  himself  on  this  success,  for  he  had  fought 
the  Confederates  with  two  men  to  their  one.  At 
five  o'clock  on  Monday  morning  Nelson's  divis- 
ion was  formed  in  line  of  battle  nearest  to  the 
Tennessee,  though  the  flooded  ravine  was  be- 
tween the  troops  and  the  river.  All  the  artillery 
had  been  left  at  Savannah  with  the  trains,  on  ac- 
count of  the  impassable  roads.     On  the  right  of 


FINAL   RESULT   OF   THE   GREAT   BATTLE        417 

it  was  Crittenden's  division,  and  a  place  was  left 
for  McCook's  when  it  should  arrive. 

Nelson's  division  was  ordered  forward,  and 
began  the  advance.  The  enemy's  pickets  were 
driven  a  mile  by  his  skirmishers,  evidently  par- 
taking in  some  degree  of  the  impetuosity  of  the 
commander.  General  Buell  ordered  the  fourth 
division  to  halt;  for  it  was  running  away  from 
Crittenden's,  which  came  up  with  it  after  a  little 
delay,  and  they  went  forward  together. 

The  march  of  the  two  divisions  soon  brought 
the  enemy  down  upon  them,  so  that  they  were 
checked  in  their  advance.  Nelson  sorely  needed 
his  artillery,  which  had  been  left  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  For  the  want  of  this  impor- 
tant arm.  Nelson's  command  was  compelled  dog' 
gedly  to  fall  back ;  but  Crittenden  had  his 
artillery,  and  was  better  able  to  take  care  of 
his  force.  A  battery  from  his  division  was  sent 
to  Nelson's  assistance,  when  the  forward  move- 
ment of  the  enemy  was  checked. 

The  onslaught  of  Nelson's  division  soon  as- 
sured General  Beauregard  that  the  junction  of 
the    Army  of   the   Ohio  with  the   Army  of   the 


418  ON   THE   STAFF 

Tennessee  had  been  effected,  and  he  reported 
that  he  was  satisfied  that  he  was  attacked  by  a 
largely  superior  force.  When  the  line  of  bat- 
tle of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  with  the  portion 
of  McCook's  division  which  had  arrived,  was 
formed,  it  was  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length. 
Portions  of  this  line  advanced  and  retreated  by 
turns,  and  the  battle  lasted  till  early  in  the 
afternoon. 

The  enemy  had  finally  been  forced  back ;  but 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  repulse  of 
the  Confederates  was  complete,  and  before  dark 
they  were  five  miles  south  of  the  locality  of  Gen- 
eral Grant's  line  on  Sunday  morning.  What  had 
been  lost  of  ground  on  that  day  was  much  more 
than  recovered  on  Monday.  It  has  been  quite 
impossible  in  the  space  available  to  give  the  de- 
tails of  all  the  movements  in  such  a  great  battle 
as  that  of  Pittsburg  Landing. 

At  the  close  of  the  day  the  troops  were  too 
much  exhausted  by  the  two  days'  fighting  of  a 
large  portion,  or  the  one  day's  fighting  of  the 
rest  with  their  long  march  previously,  to  pursue 
the   retreating    foe.      In    the    morning    Generals 


FINAL   RESULT   OF   THE   GREAT   BATTLE        419 

Sherman  and  Wood,  each  with  two  brigades, 
and  the  Riverlawn  Cavalry  with  the  latter,  were 
sent  by  General  Grant  to  ascertain  the  position 
of  the  enemy  if  in  camp,  or  to  pursue  them  if 
in  retreat. 

It  was  discovered  that  General  Beauregard 
had  withdrawn  his  infantry  and  artillery  beyond 
Lick  Creek,  leaving  a  large  force  of  cavalry  in 
his  rear.  General  Sherman  attacked  this  force, 
and  for  a  while  the  Riverlawn  battalion  was  in 
its  element.  The  enemy  was  driven  a  considera- 
ble distance ;  but  the  pursuit  was  useless,  and  the 
generals  returned  with  the  foces  to  the  camps. 

Thus  ended  the  great  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, or  Shiloh  as  it  is  called  in  the  South,  in  the 
defeat  of  the  Confederates,  even  after  their  vic- 
tory on  this  bloody  field  had  been  proclaimed  in 
Richmond.  After  the  loss  of  Mill  Springs,  Forts 
Henry  and  Donelson,  the  immense  dehght  of  the 
Secessionists  there  and  elsewhere  can  readily  be 
imagined.  And  so  can  the  revulsion  of  feeling 
when  the  result  of  the  second  day's  battle  was 
carried  on  the  wires  to  their  rejoicing  hearts. 

In  this  severe  battle  the  total  loss  of  the  com- 


420  ON  THE  STAFF 

bined  Union  armies  was  twelve  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety.  The  loss  of  the  Confederates 
was  ten  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-seven. 
The  difference  was  not  quite  fifteen  hundred 
against  the  loyal  force.  The  stragglers  were 
quite  as  numerous  on  one  side  as  the  other,  and 
during  the  night  those  of  the  enemy  plundered 
the  deserted  camps.  "  Cowardly  citizens  and 
rapacious  soldiers  were  engaged  alike  in  the 
wretched  work,"  says  a  Southern  history  of  the 
war,  in  venting  its   indignation  at  the  outrages. 


CAPTAIN  LYON  MAKES  A  SCOUTLNG-TOUR      421 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

CAPTAIN   LYON   JVLAKES    A   SCOUTINGf-TOUR 

The  State  of  Kentucky  had  distinguished  it- 
self in  this  great  battle ;  and  General  Sherman, 
who  was  not  only  General  Grant's  "right-hand 
man,"  but  one  of  the  ablest  officers  the  war  pro- 
duced, spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  them  :  "  Here 
I  saw  for  the  first  time  the  well-ordered  and 
compact  Kentucky  forces  of  General  Buell,  whose 
soldierly  movement  at  once  gave  confidence  to 
our  newer  and  less  disciplined  forces."  There 
were  no  stragglers  from  the  Army  of  the  Ohio. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  a  comparatively  vast 
number  of  stragglers  swarmed  in  the  shelter 
of  such  places  as  they  could  find,  most  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  fought  bravely,  and  did 
not  give  way  to  panic  on  the  field.  A  great 
deal  of  credit  was  a<varded  to  the  divisions  of 
Nelson  and  Crittenden,  not  more  deserved  than 
belonged   to   the    other   divisions;    but   they  de- 


422  ON  THE   STAFF 

feated  and  routed  the  entire  right  of  the  Con- 
federate force  under  General  Bragg  when  he 
made  his  final  effort  to  break  the  line. 

Perhaps  no  battle  of  the  war  was  projected 
with  more  substantial  and  far-reaching  objective 
ends  than  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  on 
the  part  of  the  Confederate  generals.  Its  pri- 
mary object  was  to  crush  Grant  and  the  com- 
bined armies  of  the  Tennessee  and  the  Ohio ; 
for  this  purpose  attained,  it  was  possible  for 
the  enemy  to  obtain  a  foothold  in  Kentucky, 
and  the  lead,  for  a  time  at  least,  in  all  the 
military  movements  in  the  great  West.  And  the 
valiant  troops  of  that  vast  region  were  fighting 
for  their  own  firesides,  like  those  from  Kentucky ; 
for  the  coveted  line  of  Ohio,  once  obtained  and 
fortified  by  the  enemy,  would  have  opened  the 
prosperous  States  at  the  north  of  it,  as  far  as 
the  Canadian  boundary,  to  the  march  and  pillage 
of  the  Southern  armies.  It  would  have  reduced 
them  to  the  condition  of  the  States  to  which 
the  war  was  happily  confined  for  four  years. 

There  was  a  vast  population  in  these  States 
from  which   to    draw  soldiers  for  such    an  emer- 


CAPTAIN  LYON  MAKES  A  SCOUTING-TOUE,      423 

gency;  but  armies  are  not  gathered  and  disci- 
plined in  a  week  or  a  month,  as  the  experience 
at  Pittsburg  Landing,  with  nearly  a  fourth  part 
of  the  army  of  the  fu'st  day  crouching  as  strag- 
glers under  the  banks  of  the  river  amply  de- 
monstrates. It  was  the  disciplined  soldiers  that 
saved  the  first  day  from  being  utterly  a  rout. 
The  great  enterprise  of  the  Southern  leadei-s  was 
a  failure,  however  rosy  an  appearance  they  tried 
to  put  upon  the  result. 

General  Halleck  arrived  at  Pittsburg  Landing 
April  11,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  concentrate 
the  armies  for  the  attack  upon  Corinth.  Exten- 
sive fortifications  were  thrown  up  by  both  armies. 
The  Union  forces  were  greatly  superior  in  num- 
bers to  the  Confederates ;  and  the  soldiere  were 
impatient  to  be  led  to  the  attack,  and  none 
more  so  than  Nelson's  division,  now  in  better 
condition  than  at  the  battle  farther  down  the 
river,  for  the  artillery,  which  had  been  left  at 
Savannah,  was  with  the  command. 

The  gaze  of  the  whole  nation  was  fixed  upon 
the  movements  of  the  two  great  armies  of  the 
East  and  the  West,  one  in  the  vicinity  of  Rich- 


424  ON   THE   STAFF 

mond,  and  the  other  around  Corinth.  Both  the 
Union  and  the  Confederate  armies  had  been  largely 
re-enforced ;  and  the  result  of  the  expected  battles 
would  be  important,  if  not  decisive.  The  crisis 
of  the  war  was  believed  to  be  approaching  by 
many,  but  it  did  not  come  till  a  year  later. 

General  Beauregard  sent  forward  large  detach- 
ments towards  Pittsburg  to  prevent  the  advance 
of  any  reconnoitring  bodies,  either  large  or  small, 
and  to  retard  the  progress  of  the  army  on  its 
march ;  and  the  cavalry  of  General  Nelson's  di- 
vision found  abundant  occupation  on  the  road. 
Captain  Gordon  was  still  in  the  hospital,  though 
in  a  fair  way  to  recover.  After  the  battle  every- 
tliing  possible  was  done  for  the  wounded,  and 
they  were  made  tolerably  comfortable. 

Captain  Lyon  was  still  retained  in  command 
of  the  first  company  of  the  Riverlawns,  though 
he  protested  to  General  Woodbine  that  the  com- 
mand ought  to  be  given  to  Tom  Belthorpe.  He 
and  the  first  lieutenant  were  fast  friends,  and  on 
excellent  terms  with  each  other ;  and  Tom  in- 
sisted that  he  should  be  happier  to  have  Deck 
at  the  head  of  the  company,  rather  than   be   in 


CAPTAIN  TA'ON  MAKES  A  SCOUTING-TOUR      425 

this  position  himself.  But  it  was  hoped  and 
expected  that  Captain  Gordon  would  soon  be  in 
condition  to  resume  the  command. 

The  enemy  were  well  provided  with  cavalry ; 
and  when  General  Woodbine  was  moving  his 
brigade  to  the  south,  his  three  companies  were 
very  useful  to  him.  The  horses  as  well  as  the 
riders  had  suffered  a  great  deal  in  the  terrible 
experience  of  the  battle-days,  especially  when  it 
had  not  been  possible  to  bring  forage  for  them 
across  the  river,  though  this  had  only  been  a 
temporary  matter.  Deck  gave  his  pei-sonal  atten- 
tion to  Ceph  in  such  straits  as  this,  and  some- 
times gave  him  "  hardtack "  from  his  own  haver- 
sack. 

General  Halleck,  who  certainly  had  more  tact 
at  organizing  an  army  than  he  had  for  fighting, 
had  divided  his  vast  army  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  thousand  men  into  five  grand  divisions,  — 
the  right  wing,  the  left  wing,  the  centre,  the  cav- 
alry, and  the  reserves.  The  fourth  division,  of 
which  General  Woodbine's  brigade  was  still  a 
portion,  belonged  to  the  centre.  The  main  body 
of  the  cavalry  formed  a  grand  division  by  itself ; 


426  ON   THE   STAFF 

but  those   brigades  which  had    detachments    less 
than  a  regiment  retained  them. 

These  grand  divisions  were  sent  by  different 
routes,  and  roads  where  there  were  any,  though 
they  were  not  worth  mentioning.  General  Nelson 
proceded  first  to  Hamburg,  about  ten  miles  south 
of  Pittsburg,  and  on  the  river.  From  this  point 
he  turned  to  the  south-west,  and  later  to  the 
south,  passing  an  unsurveyed  region,  where  the 
brigade  of  General  Woodbine  halted  to  fill  their 
canteens  at  Waldron's  Creek.  This  was  on  the 
second  day  of  the  march ;  for  there  was  no  emer- 
gency, and  even  the  impetuous  general  did  not 
hurry  the  troops  over  the  muddy  route. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  I  can  hear  the  sound  of 
hoi'ses'  feet  ahead,"  said  Lieutenant  Herndon, 
who  had  carried  forward  the  order  to  halt,  and 
there  met  Captain  Lyon.  "Did  you  hear  any- 
thing. Deck?" 

"I  have  not  noticed  any  unusual  sounds,"  re- 
plied the  captain,  as  he  started  his  horse  forward 
to  investigate  the  matter,  and  Herndon  went  with 
him. 

"  I  should  say  that  Beauregard  had  a  nice  time 


CAPTAIN    LYON   MAKES   A   SCOUTING-TOUR      427 

in  sending  his  detachments  forward  through  all 
these  by-roads ;  for  I  doubt  if  there  is  a  regular 
highway  anywhere  in  this  region,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant, when  they  halted  about  ten  rods  beyond 
the  main  body. 

"  I  hear  something  now,"  added  Deck.  "  Hurry 
up,  Frank,  and  we  will  see  if  we  can  find  it;"  and 
he  started  his  steed  at  full  gallop. 

But  they  had  not  gone  fifty  rods  when  Deck 
called  for  a  halt  near  a  bend  in  the  road  which 
shut  off  their  view  beyond  it. 

"I  am  sure  now  that  I  heard  the  sound  of  a 
horse's  feet,  and  something  like  the  rattle  of 
equipments,"  said  Deck,  as  he  started  Ceph  at  a 
walk  to  obtain  a  sight  of  the  horseman,  if  there 
was  any,  at  the  turn  of  the  route. 

"  That's  plain  enough  now,"  added  Frank.  "  I 
see  them  now !  There  are  two  cavalrymen,  hur- 
rying their  hoi-ses  to  the  utmost.  There  is  some- 
thing up  along  this  miserable  road." 

Deck  obtained  a  sight  of  the  cavalrymen  almost 
at  the  same  moment,  and  then  they  disappeared 
behind  another  bend. 

"  There  is  a  force  ahead  of  us  somewhere,  and 


428  ON   THE   STAFF 

those  two  men  are  scouts  looking  for  an  enemy  in 
this  direction,"  said  he,  starting  Ceph  again  at  a 
gallop,  and  riding  till  he  came  to  the  next  bend, 
halting  just  before  he  reached  it. 

The  scouts  disappeared  again  just  before  they 
came  to  it.  Scouts  had  been  sent  out  ahead  of 
the  brigade  ;  but  they  had  halted  at  the  creek  to 
fill  their  canteens,  for  the  day  was  very  warm  for 
the  season  to  those  with  Northern  blood  in  their 
veins,  and  they  were  very  thirsty.  Their  halt 
had  suggested  the  same  idea  to  the  troops  behind 
them.  But  the  captain  thought  they  were  get- 
ting too  far  away  from  the  brigade  for  their  own 
safety ;  though  it  seemed  to  be  his  duty  to  inform 
himself  of  the  nature  of  the  force  ahead,  if  there 
was  one. 

Again  he  rode  forward  at  full  speed  to  the  next 
bend,  and  took  an  observation  as  before.  This 
time  he  discovered  nearly  half  a  mile  ahead,  on 
a  piece  of  straight  road,  a  cavalry  force  approach- 
ing him.  It  extended  a  considerable  distance; 
but  he  could  not  determine  the  number,  though 
it  looked  like  a  whole  company. 

"  There    they   are !  "    exclaimed   Deck,    as    he 


CAPTAIN   LYON  MAKES   A   SCOUTING-TOUR      429 

pointed  down  the  road.  "  I  think  you  had  bet- 
ter return  to  the  head  of  the  column,  Frank,  and 
inform  the  general  that  there  is  a  force  in  front 
of  us." 

"  Just  as  you  say.  Captain  Lyon ;  but  I  might 
help  you  in  looking  this  thing  up,"  replied  the 
lieutenant. 

"I  don't  need  any  help,  Frank;  and  the  gen- 
eral will  be  wondering  what  has  become  of  us. 
I  wish  you  would  go  back,  and  explain  to  him 
why  we  came  so  far,"  added  Deck. 

"  All  right ;  I  will  do  so,"  and  he  rode  off  at 
an  easy  pace ;  but  he  turned  back  at  the  bend, 
and  joined  the  captain. 

"  Six  scouts  are  coming,  but  they  are  not 
hurrying,"  said  he. 

"  Order  them  to  walk  their  horses,  and  halt 
when  they  come  to  the  next  bend,"  said  Captain 
Lyon. 

"I  will  hang  my  handkerchief  on  a  bush  at 
the  point  where  they  are  to  halt,"  replied  Frank, 
as  he  rode  off  again. 

The  captain  dismounted,  and  left  his  steed  at 
the  bend,  knowing  that  Ceph  would  stand  there 


430  ON   THE    STAFF 

all  day  if  he  did  not  come  to  him.  Then  he 
walked  cautiously  to  the  turn  of  the  road,  and 
waited  till  the  two  scouts  came  to  the  head 
of  the  column,  when  it  halted.  The  force  had 
come  considerably  nearer  to  him  while  the  scouts 
were  approaching.  He  was  satisfied  now  that  it 
consisted  of  a  full  company.  It  halted  while 
the  scouts  made  their  report.  - 

As  stated  before,  the  brigade  was  moving 
along  an  unsurveyed  tract  of  country.  The  road 
was  bordered  by  a  piece  of  woods,  extending 
into  the  "  desert,"  as  some  of  the  officers  called 
it ;  though  it  was  not  a  proper  name  for  it,  for 
Chambers'  and  Waldron's  Creeks  extended  nearly 
across  it,  and  then  united  to  form  a  larger 
stream.  From  the  views  obtained  of  it  through 
the  woods,  it  looked  like  a  soft  place,  especially 
near  the  water-courses. 

Beyond  the  "desert,"  on  the  main  road,  there 
was  a  hamlet  of  half  a  dozen  houses,  though 
shanties  would  have  been  a  better  name  for 
them ;  and  beyond  this  was  a  cross-road  turning 
to  the  south-east  and  the  opposite  point,  with  a 
cotton-press   at   the    farther  corner.      The  whole 


I 


CAPTAIN  LYON  MAKES  A  SCOUTING-TOUK      431 

region  was  mostly  covered  with  forests,  or  with 
scattered  trees,  having  a  considerable  number  of 
small  or  large  tracts  where  the  wood  had  been 
cut  off,  and  the  land  cultivated  in  cotton,  the 
dry  stalks  of  which  were  still  standing  in  many 
of  them. 

The  bend  at  which  Deck  was  standing  after 
the  departure  of  the  lieutenant  commanded  a 
full  view  of  the  locality  just  described,  the 
cotton-press  being  the  boundary  of  his  vision. 
He  was  watching  to  see  what  the  company  in- 
tended to  do  at  this  place ;  for  they  need  not 
have  halted  on  the  report  of  the  scouts,  as 
they  could  attack  the  column  as  well  in  one 
locality  as  another. 

But  he  was  not  required  to  halt  long  before 
a  movement  engaged  his  attention.  The  force 
was  moving  towards  him;  and  he  was  all  ready 
to  retreat  to  his  horse,  and  ride  to  the  head  of 
the  brigade  column.  But  the  company  did  not 
come  far  before  a  part  of  it  turned  around  and 
marched  back.  He  saw  the  head  of  it  turn  to 
the  left  into  the  road  to  the  south-east,  but  only 
one-half  of  it  went  this  way ;  the  second  platoon 


432  ON   THE   STAFF 

turned  to  the  right,  for  the  road  mentioned  ex- 
tended across  the  one  on  which  the  brigade  was 
moving. 

It  was  clear  enough  to  the  captain  that  a 
surprise  had  been  planned  by  the  captain  of  the 
company;  and  that  he  intended  to  take  the  head 
of  the  approaching  column  on  both  flanks,  and 
cut  the  men  down,  or  make  prisoners  of  them. 
He  was  in  no  hurry ;  for  he  was  confident  the 
enemy  would  wait  for  the  brigade  in  the  posi- 
tions they  had  chosen,  and  he  rode  slowly.  He 
recalled  an  opening  he  had  noticed  before ;  and 
when  he  came  to  it  he  halted,  and  looked  at  a 
map  of  the  country  he  carried  with  him.  It  was 
not  a  topographical  map,  and  the  path  in  the 
woods  was  not  laid  down  on  it;  but  he  decided 
to  see  to  what  the  road  would  lead  him.  It 
was  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the 
open  country,  and  he  halted  there. 

The  road  to  the  south-east  appeared  on  the 
map,  and  he  could  see  it  from  the  place  where 
he  stopped.  The  path  bore  to  the  right;  and 
there  were  ruts  and  the  footprints  of  horses  in 
it,    showing   that  vehicles    of   some   kind  passed 


CAPTAIN  LYON  MAKES  A  SCOUTING-TOTJR      433 

this  way.  On  the  road  to  the  south  of  him, 
where  the  first  platoon  had  turned  in,  he  dis- 
covered a  hamlet ;  and  he  concluded  that  the 
path  was  only  a  short  cut  from  one  road  to  the 
other.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do 
with  his  company  if  permitted,  and  he  rode 
back  at  full  speed  to   the  head  of   the  column. 


434  ON   THE    STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 

A   HEAVY    SKIKMISH    ON    THE   ROAD 

Captain  Lyon  had  left  the  scouts  on  the 
road  to  watch  the  enemy,  ordering  the  sergeant 
in  command  of  them  not  to  go  any  nearer  to 
the  cross-roads,  at  which  was  the  hamlet  digni- 
fied on  the  map  by  the  name  of  "  Roland," 
though  this  was  the  name  of  a  person  living 
there,  and  to  hasten  back  to  the  column  if 
there  was  any  movement  to  advance. 

"  I  was  afraid  you  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,"  said  General  Woodbine,  who  was 
one  of  the  group  of  officers  gathered  in  front 
of  the  first  company. 

"  I  don't  do  that  sort  of  think  as  a  rule.  Gen- 
eral," replied  Deck,  as  he  took  his  map  from 
his  cap,  where  he  carried  it.  "I  felt  obliged 
to  remain  long  enough  to  ascertain  what  the 
enemy  were  doing,  for  their  movements  were  a 
little  suspicious." 


A   HEAVY   SKIRMISH   ON   THE   ROAD  435 

"  Well,  what  were  they  doing  ? "  asked  the 
commander. 

"  The  force  consists  of  only  one  company  of 
cavalry ;  but  the  captain  of  it  appears  to  have 
a  vein  of  strategy  in  his  brain,  and  he  has  set  a 
very  comfortable  trap  for  us  to  fall  into  if  we 
are  so  obliging  as  to  accommodate  him  in  this 
way,"  replied  Deck,   as  he  spread  out  his  map. 

He  proceeded  to  explain  the  situation  of  the 
enemy  near  the  cross-roads  into  which  they  had 
turned. 

"  You  have  looked  the  ground  over.  Captain ; 
and,  as  it  is  to  be  a  cavalry  affair,  I  will  turn 
the  matter  over  to  Major  Lyon,  and  you  may 
consult  with  him  about  it,"  said  the  general,  as 
he  turned  his  horse,  and  rode  back  to  the  in- 
fantry column,  perhaps  to  prepare  that  arm  of 
the  service  to  support  the  cavalry  if  needed. 

"  Well,  Captain  Lyon,  you  seem  to  be  in  com- 
mand here,  and  I  suppose  I  am  of  no  use,"  said 
Major  Lyon,  as  his  son  approached  him. 

"  No,  father  !  "  protested  Deck.  "  Have  I 
been  too  presumptuous  ? "  asked  Deck,  rather 
taken  aback  by  the  implied  rebuke  of  the  major. 


436  ON   THE   STAFF 

"I  did.  not  .say  that,  or  hint  it,  Dexter,"  replied 
the  parent.     "  You  are  too  sensitive,  my  son." 

"I  have  simply  reported  the  facts  as  I  found 
them;  and  I  did  not  make  a  suggestion  of  any 
kind  to  the  general,"  answered  Deck. 

"  But  he  sent  you  to  me  for  consultation," 
added  the  major,  with  a  smile. 

"  You  command  the  three  companies  of  cavalry, 
and  he  intimated  that  this  affair  was  to  be  settled 
by  your  arm." 

"  We  must  not  stop  to  discuss  it,  or  the  enemy 
may  be  upon  us.  What  do  you  advise,  Captain 
Lyon  ?  "  asked  the  major. 

"  I  don't  advise  anything,  Major  Lyon,"  re- 
plied Deck,  with  a  smile,  for  he  was  not  angry  ; 
but  he  had  always  been  very  careful  not  to  offer 
any  advice  to  a  superior  officer  unless  he  was 
asked  for  it. 

"  You  need  not  be  so  sensitive.  Dexter.  I 
asked  your  advice,  as  I  should  have  asked  Cap- 
tain Truman's.  You  have  looked  the  ground 
over,  and  you  know  better  than  anybody  else 
what  is  best  to  be  done,"  added  the  major.  "Let 
me  see  your  plan.  Dexter." 


A    HEAVY    SKIRMISH    ON   THJ:    ROAD  437 

Deck  took  the  map  from  his  cap,  and  briefly 
explained  the  situation. 

"  I  am  not  in  command  of  the  battalion,  Major 
Lyon ;  but  if  I  were,  I  should  send  the  first  com- 
pany in  at  this  road  through  the  woods,  and 
direct  them  to  march  over  to  the  south-east  road 
to  Patterson's,  as  it  is  called  on  the  map,  where 
I  think  they  cannot  be  seen  by  the  enemy 
through  the  woods.  But  this  should  not  be  the 
first  movement." 

"  What  would  be  your  first  movement  ? " 
asked  the  major,  evidently  interested  in  his 
son's  strategy. 

"  I  should  send  the  Marions  forward  by  the 
road  we  are  on,  the  second  platoon  in  two  parts, 
one-half  on  each  side  of  the  road;  for  the  woods 
are  not  dense,  and  the  horses  can  readily  pass 
between  the  trees." 

"Is  the  second  company  to  remain  out  of  the 
fight  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all ;  the  second  company  should  fol- 
low the  Marions,  for  they  will  form  a  thin  line, 
and  be  a  reserve  to  act  where  they  happen  to 
be  the  most  needed." 


438  ON    THE    STAFF 

"But  you  have  not  told  me  what  the  fii*st 
company  is  to  do  on  the  cross-road  or  at  Patter- 
son's," suggested  the  commander  of  the  battalion. 

"  The  first  comjDany  is  not  to  do  anything  at 
Patterson's,  but  are  to  hasten  up  the  south-east 
road,  and  fall  upon  the  enemy  in  the  rear  or  on 
the  flank,  as  the  case  may  be.  I  have  given  you 
all  my  ideas.  Major ;  and  now  I  will  obey  your 
orders,  whatever  they  may  be,"  Deck  concluded, 
saluting  his  superior  officer. 

Major  Lyon  looked  upon  the  ground,  then 
pursed  up  his  lips,  as  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
doing  when  he  was  thinking ;  and  he  spoke,  hav- 
ing evidently  reached  a  conclusion.  He  had 
judged  the  plan  by  its  own  merits,  as  he  always 
did,  for  his  mind  and  his  judgment  were  of  a 
judicial  cast. 

"I  have  no  better  plan  than  yours.  Captain 
Lyon,  and  therefore  I  shall  adopt  it ;  indeed,  I 
think  it  is  better  than  anything  I  could  bring  for- 
ward at  present.  The  Marions  are  to  march  first, 
I  understand  you  ?  "  added  the  chief  of  battalion. 

"Yes,  sir;  and  the  sooner  the  better,"  replied 
Deck. 


A   HEAVY    SKIRMISH   ON   THE   ROAD  439 

Artie  had  been  standing  near  his  father  through 
all  his  conversation,  and  had  been  greatly  inter- 
ested in  it.  Major  Lyon  was  proceeding  to  detail 
the  orders  for  Captain  Richland,  the  captain  of 
the  third  company,  when  the  young  man  inter- 
posed. 

"I  have  heard  all  that  Captain  Lyon  has  said, 
and  I  undei-stand  the  orders  perfectly;  "  and  he 
repeated  them  correctly. 

"  Right,  Artie ;  now  carry  them  to  Captain 
Richland  as  fast  as  you  can  go,"  added  the 
major. 

He  went  off  like  a  rocket ;  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  company  had  passed  the  others,  and  reached 
the  front.  The  captain  then  arranged  his  men  in 
conformity  with  the  order,  and  had  about  twenty- 
five  men  on  each  flank.  The  troopers  were  to  use 
their  carbines  first,  and  then  the  sabres  for  the 
charge.  They  were  told  to  move  at  a  walk  till 
they  could  see  the  hamlet,  and  then  to  march  at  a 
gallop,  in  order  to  give  the  first  company  time  to 
reach  the  south-east  road. 

"  Attention  —  company  !  "  shouted  Deck,  pla- 
cing himself   at  the   front.     "  Gallop  —  march !  " 


440  ON    THE    STAFF 

and  he  gave  the  rein  to  Ceph,  with  his  signal 
to  go. 

He  did  go  with  a  vengeance,  and  he  seemed  to 
be  perfectly  aware  that  there  was  business  at  hand. 
The  captain  soon  came  up  with  the  Marions,  and 
saw  that  they  were  making  good  progress,  on  the 
flanks  as  well  as  in  the  road.  The  trees  were  at 
least  six  feet  apart,  and  often  more  distant.  As 
soon  as  he  saw  the  cross-path  or  road,  he  turned 
into  it.  The  trees  were  about  as  sparsely  scat- 
tered as  at  the  side  of  the  road ;  but  a  breadth  of 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  them  was  enough  to  conceal 
his  force  from  those  who  were  posted  on  the  south- 
east road.  As  he  approached  Patterson's,  he  di- 
minished his  own  speed,  and  ordered  the  command 
to  trot. 

Around  the  hamlet,  for  it  was  nothing  more, 
some  of  the  land  was  under  cultivation ;  and  he 
halted  the  company,  fearful  that  his  force  might 
be  revealed  to  the  enemy,  for  he  desired  that  the 
Confederate  company  should  engage  the  Marions 
before  his  presence  was  known. 

"Lieutenant  Knox !  "  Deck  called,  when  he  saw 
the  tall  Kentuckian  on  the  left  of  his  platoon. 


A   HEAVY    SKIRMISH    ON   THE   ROAD  441 

Life  dashed  forward  as  though  he  had  been 
struck  by  the  sabre  of  his  friend  and  favorite. 
He  rode  up  to  the  acting  captain,  and  saluted  him 
without  a  word. 

"I  want  you  to  scout  in  the  direction  of  the 
road  that  passes  through  that  little  collection  of 
houses,"  said  Deck,  pointing  with  liis  sabre  in  the 
direction  of  the  highway. 

Life  saluted  again,  and  then  dashed  off. 

"  Halt !  "  cried  Deck.  "  Don't  let  them  see 
you;  and  if  you  find  any  person  moving  up  that 
road,  stop  him,  if  you  have  to  do  it  with  your 
carbine !  " 

Life  was  the  best  scout  in  the  squadron, 
which  was  the  reason  the  captain  had  called  him. 
He  took  all  the  precautions  that  were  necessary, 
and  seemed  to  do  so  by  instinct;  for  he  had 
been  a  trapper  and  hunter  over  much  of  the  ter- 
ritory between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  fighting  wild  Indians,  and  incurring  all 
the  perils  of  the  wilderness,  and  his  optic  and 
auditory  nerves  had  been  cultivated  to  their 
highest  powers. 

He  obtained  a  sight  of  the  company,  or  platoon, 


442  ON    THE    STAFF 

posted  there ;  but  it  was  not  necessary  for  him 
to  exercise  any  of  his  woodcraft  further,  for  he 
had  scarcely  discovered  the  force  before  the  Con- 
federate yell  rang  out  on  the  still  air.  This  was 
their  war-cry,  and  it  meant  that  they  were  rush- 
ing forward  to  battle ;  and  Life  galloped  back 
with  all  the  speed  of  his  powerful  steed. 

Before  he  was  seen,  Deck  gave  the  order  to 
march  at  a  gallop,  and  dashed  by  the  shortest 
cut  to  the  road.  In  two  minutes  or  less  he 
reached  the  cotton-press,  where  he  could  see  the 
combat  going  on  in  front  of  him.  The  first 
platoon  of  the  enemy  struck  the  head  of  Cap- 
tain Richland's  column,  but  not  till  at  least  a 
dozen  of  the  enemy  had  fallen,  or  fled  to  the 
woods,  where  they  were  confronted  by  the  two 
flanking  parties.  The  second  platoon  of  the 
enemy  had  moved  forward  on  the  west  side  of 
the  road ;  but  when  they  came  forward  they 
were  confronted  by  the  twenty-five  men  on  that 
side  of  the  road.  Major  Lyon  saw  this,  and 
ordered  Captain  Truman  of  the  reserve  in  the 
rear  to  hasten  to  the  west  side  of  the  road.  The 
platoon  of  the  enemy  in  that  locality  were  then 


A   HEAVY   SKIRMISH   ON   THE   ROAD  443 

outnumbered,  and  realized  almost  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  fight  that  they  were  beaten.  They 
fled  farther  into  the  forest,  unwilling  to  throw 
away  their  lives  in  a  useless  struggle. 

But  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  in  the  road 
continued  to  conduct  themselves  with  the  bra- 
very of  desperation,  even  when  they  saw  that  they 
had  fallen  into  an  ugly  trap.  Deck's  company 
cheered  lustily  when  they  discovered  them,  as 
they  had  on  the  field  of  Pittsburg  Landing ;  and, 
after  firing  their  carbines,  they  charged  with  the 
fury  of  madmen ;  and  the  enemy  began  to  fall 
from  their  horses,  dead  or  wounded,  to  the 
ground,  where  they  were  trampled  upon  by  the 
horses. 

The  struggle  lasted  but  two  or  three  minutes, 
and  it  looked  then  as  though  the  Confederates 
had  lost  half  their  men.  The  captain  had  been 
cheering  on  his  men  when  first  seen,  and  fought 
hke  a  hero  himself ;  but  when  he  saw  a  whole 
company  of  blue  uniforms  in  his  rear,  charging 
furiously  into  his  command,  he  shouted  "  Quar- 
ter! "  at  the  top  of  his  lungs.  Stufton,  the  bu- 
gler, was  near  the  captain  of  the  first  company  ; 


444  ON    THE    STAFF 

and  he  was  ordered  to  sound  the  recall.  Not 
another  shot  was  fired,  not  another  blow  was 
struck ;  and  Deck  moved  forward  to  meet  the 
valiant  commander  of  the  company.  He  thought 
he  had  seen  him  before ;  and  when  he  came 
nearer  to  him  he  recognized  the  gallant  lieuten- 
ant wounded  at  the  battle  of  the  Cross-Roads  in 
Kentucky  when  he  was  in  the  Texan  cavalry. 

"How  do  you  do,  Captain  Makepeace,"  said 
Captain  Lyon,   extending  his  hand  to  him. 

"  I  have  seen  you  before,  but  I  cannot  quite 
make  out  who  you  are,"  said  the  Confederate, 
gazing  intently  into  his  brown  face. 

"  You  were  badly  wounded  at  what  we  call 
the  Battle  of  the  Cross-Roads,"  Deck  explained. 

"  I  was  badly  wounded,  and  I  have  hardly 
got  over  it  yet.  Are  you  the  young  officer  that 
did  it?"  the  captain  inquired,  as  his  memory 
seemed  to  come  back  to  him. 

"  I  am,"  replied  Deck. 

"  Then,  I  can  only  say  that  you  are  an  awful 
fellow  in  a  fight,  and  your  horse  is  another," 
added  Captain  Makepeace,  with  a  smile,  as  he 
grasped  Deck's  hand  again.     "  I  was   a  prisoner 


A   HEAVY   SKIRMISH   ON   THE   ROAD  445 

ill  the  hospital,  and  I  was  moved  down  to  River- 
lawn  when  your  squadron  went  away  from  the 
cross-roads.  I  can  only  say  that  I  was  treated 
as  though  I  had  been  a  good  friend,  and  not  an 
enemy.  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  Deck,  for  that 
is  what  they  called  you  then." 

"  And  do  now  when  not  on  duty  ;  but  I  am 
no  longer  a  lieutenant,  for  I  was  a  second  then. 
I  am  now  a  captain  on  the  staff  of  the  general 
of  my  brigade,"  added  Deck. 

"  And  you  will  be  a  major-general  if  this 
cruel  war  lasts  much  longer." 

"Thank  you.  Captain  Makepeace;  I  am  higher 
in  rank  now  than  I  ought  to  be.  Here  comes 
my  father." 

Major  Lyon  had  already  given  the  order  for 
the  men  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  and 
Dr.  Farnwright  was  at  work  upon  them.  The 
slaughter  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  had  been 
terrible,  and  six  had  been  killed  and  twice  as 
many  wounded  in  the  Union  force.  He  recog- 
nized the  captain  of  the  Confederate  company, 
but  he  had  not  much  to  say  to  him  at  this  time. 
He  had  sent  Artie  Lyon  back  to  report  the  re- 


446  ON   THE   STAFF 

suit  of  the  fight  to  General  Woodbine,  requesting 
to  know  what  should  be  done  with  the  prisoners. 

The  order  came  back  to  parole  the  prisoners, 
wounded  or  not,  and  establish  a  hospital  for  the 
wounded.  This  was  done,  the  Union  wounded 
were  put  on  the  wagons  when  they  came  up,  and 
the  march  was  resumed. 


A  COJSfCEALED   FORCE    UNDER   THE   RIDGE      447 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

A   CONCEALED    FORCE   UNDER    THE   RHJGE 

The  right  and  left  wings  and  the  centre  of 
General  Halleck's  grand  army  came  to  the  front 
of  Corinth  at  the  several  positions,  or  very  near 
them,  which  they  were  to  occupy.  General  Beau- 
regard had  been  re-enforced  by  the  troops  of 
Van  Dorn  and  Price  from  farther  west ;  and  on 
a  slight  elevation,  in  the  shape  of  one  side  of  a 
long  ellipse,  extensive  intrenchments  had  been 
constructed.  On  similar  elevations,  overlapping 
the  works  of  the  enemy,  and  reaching  farther 
to  the  north.  General  Halleck  caused  his  fortifi- 
cations to  be  erected.  Between  them  flowed 
Phillips  Creek  and  Bridge  Creek. 

Outside  of  the  works  on  both  sides,  batteries 
were  planted  on  convenient  elevations,  which 
either  enemy  could  use  to  annoy  or  repulse  the 
other  in  case  of  attack.  Most  of  the  country 
was    covered  with   woods   or  solitary  trees,  with 


448  ON  THE   STAFF 

portions  of  the  ground  cleared  off  and  under 
cultivation.  General  Halleck  carefully  avoided 
a  general  battle,  either  on  provocation  or  invita- 
tion, but  began  his  operations  by  regular  ap- 
proaches with  parallels ;  in  fact,  as  he  would 
have  besieged  a  strongly  built  fortress  upon 
which  he  was  to  bestow  weeks  and  months  of 
the  most  laborious  effort. 

Step  by  step,  and  by  slow  advances,  he  moved 
his  works  forward,  securing  each  new  position 
by  fortifying  it.  The  grand  army  seemed  to 
consist  of  so  many  "  pick  and  shovel "  brigades. 
General  Grant  was  second  in  command,  but 
ignored,  and  practically  in  disgrace,  so  that  he 
had  no  hand  in  the  operations  in  progress.  It 
may  be  interesting  to  contemplate  what  he  would 
have  done  if  he  had  been  in  command  of  this 
grand  army ;  but  one  may  be  confident  that  the 
approach  to  the  other  grand  army  would  have 
been  entirely  different,  and  that  a  whole  month 
would  not  have  been  spent  in  the  use  of  the  pick 
and  shovel,  though  it  is  possible  that  he  might 
have  been  checked,  as  he  was  in  the  advance 
upon  Richmond, 


A   CONCEALED   FORCE   UNDER   THE   RIDGE      449 

General  Beauregard  resisted  these  advances 
with  stubborn  resolution  and  with  augmented 
forces,  but  he  was  as  careful  to  avoid  a  general 
battle  as  the  prudent  commander  on  the  other 
side.  General  Halleck  advanced  his  entire  line 
five  times  during  the  month.  All  these  move- 
ments involved  heavy  skirmishing,  but  both  gen- 
erals still  avoided  anything  like  a  pitched  battle. 

General  Nelson's  division  was  posted  near 
Bridge  Creek,  which  was  an  insignificant  stream, 
whose  especial  mission  seemed  to  be  to  pro- 
duce mud  in  some  localities.  At  times  there 
were  some  very  sharp  encounters,  sometimes  ini- 
tiated by  one  side,  an'd  sometimes  by  the  other. 
Between  the  two  creeks,  flowing  through  the 
lower  ground,  there  was  a  considerable  elevation 
for  that  region ;  though  there  is  nothing  that 
can  be  called  a  mountain  in  the  entire  State  of 
Mississippi,  or  even  that  could  be  called  a  hill 
in  the  more  northern  or  eastern  parts  of  the 
country. 

Early  one  morning,  near  the  last  of  the  month 
of  May,  as  the  daylight  began  to  bring  the 
elevation  into  view,  the  sentinels  of  General  Nel- 


450  ON   THE   STAFF 

son's  division  discovered  evidences  that  assured 
them  a  force  was  advancing  behind  the  elevation. 
The  fact  was  reported  at  headquarters  in  the 
centre  of  the  line,  and  the  cavalry  battalion  was 
ordered  out,  as  well  as  the  entire  division ;  and 
both  arms  were  soon  ready  for  the  conflict,  which 
was  supposed  to  be  such  as  had  frequently  oc- 
curred before  during  several  weeks. 

The  order  to  reconnoitre  in  front  of  the  works 
was  carried  to  Major  Lyon  by  Lieutenant  Hern- 
don,  and  Captain  Lyon  bore  one  to  Captain 
Batterson.  Deck  still  attended  to  his  duties  on 
the  staff,  and  was  quartered  with  the  brigadier. 
Captain  Gordon  was  still  an  invalid  in  the  hos- 
pital established  at  Savannah.  In  the  engage- 
ments that  had  occurred  thus  far,  Captain  Lyon 
had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  first  com- 
pany, but  he  had  never  taken  this  position  unless 
specially  assigned  to  it  on  each  occasion  ;  but 
no  order  had  been  given  him  for  this  recon- 
naissance. 

"  Why  are  you  here.  Captain  Lyon  ? "  de- 
manded the  general  when  he  returned  from  the 
camp  of  the  battery. 


A   CONCEALED  FOKCE   UNDER   THE   E.IDGE      451 

"I  have  delivered  your  order  to  Captain  Bat- 
terson,   General,"  replied  Deck. 

"But  why  are  you  not  at  the  head  of  the 
first  company  of  the  Riverlawns  ? "  continued 
the  commander  of  the  brigade,  looking  at  the 
young  officer  as  though  he  was  surprised  to  find 
him  where  he  was. 

"  Because  I  have  not  been  ordered  to  the  com- 
mand of  it,  in  the  first  place,  and  in  the  second, 
because  Lieutenant  Belthorpe,  the  first  in  the 
company,  is  a  very  competent  officer,"  replied 
Deck. 

"  I  admit  the  competency  of  Lieutenant  Bel- 
thorpe ;  but  at  the  present,  after  taking  a  long 
look  at  the  line,  I  especially  wish  you  to  com- 
mand the  first  company,"  added  the  commander. 

"I  have  nothing  more  to  say,"  answered  the 
captain,  as  he  rode  off  on  the  road  to  Corinth, 
which  passed  through  the  camp, 

'•  If  your  father  were  not  in  command  of  the 
battalion,  I  should  place  Captain  Lyon  in  that 
position,"  added  the  general ;  but  Deck  was  too 
far  off  to  hear  it,  and  it  was  well  that  he  did 
not. 


452  ON   THE   STAFF 

It  is  more  than  possible  that  the  commander 
of  the  brigade  had  formed  an  extravagant  opin- 
ion of  the  ability  of  the  young  officer;  though 
he  generally  had  some  basis  for  his  view,  for  he 
had  employed  him  in  several  important  enter- 
prises. Deck  went  on  his  way  to  the  road  where 
the  battalion  was  forming,  wishing  that  the  gen- 
eral had  permitted  Tom  Belthorpe  to  command 
the  company  instead  of  himself. 

It  was  a  time  for  hurry,  and  though  Deck  was 
not  exactly  pleased  with  what  had  just  happened, 
he  could  not  be  remiss  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty,  whatever  it  was ;  and  if  he  had  been  called 
upon  to  use  a  pick  and  shovel,  he  would  not 
have  grumbled.  He  had  looked  out  upon  the 
elevation  behind  which  the  enemy  were  reported 
to  be  concealed,  and  his  active  brain  had  taken 
in  the  situation  almost  at  a  glance.  He  had 
made  up  his  mind  what  ought  to  be  done ;  but 
his  father  was  in  command  of  the  force,  and  he 
did  not  presume  to  advise  him. 

As  Captain  Lyon  came  to  the  head  of  the 
column,  he  could  see  his  welcome  in  the  faces  of 
the    men   turned  towards   him.     The  third  com- 


A   CONCEALED   FORCE   UNDER  THE  RIDGE      453 

pany  was  just  getting  into  line,  and  there  was 
a  momentary  pause  in  the  movement.  Deck 
went  to  the  place  at  the  head  of  the  column 
where  his  father  was  waiting,  and  saluted  him. 

"  I  am  ordered  by  General  Woodbine  to  take 
command  of  the  first  company,  though  I  was 
very  sorry  to  receive  the  order,"  said  Deck. 

"Why  were  you  sorry.  Dexter?"  asked  his 
father,  whose  surprise  was  apparent  upon  his  face, 
as  the  son's  regret  was  upon  his  own. 

"  Because  I  would  rather  see  Lieutenant  Bel- 
thorpe  in  that  position." 

"  We  must  not  bring  our  likes  and  dislikes 
into  the  service  ;  and  every  officer  should  do  his 
duty  faithfully  wherever  he  is  placed  by  his 
superior,"  replied  the  major. 

"  I  am  ready  to  do  mine.  Major,"  added  Deck, 
as  he  looked  again  down  the  road. 

"  Then  you  will  cross  your  company  by  the 
bridge,  and  lead  them  over  to  the  hill ;  while  the 
second  company  will  ford  the  creek  at  the  left, 
and  the  third  at  the  right,"  continued  the  chief 
of  battalion,  repeating  the  orders  he  had  already 
given  to  the  captains.     "  Forward  —  march  !  " 


454  ON   THE   STAFF 

Deck  obeyed  the  order  at  a  gallop,  while  the 
major  passed  to  the  side  of  the  road  till  the  second 
company  came  up.  But  he  had  no  more  than 
reached  the  bridge  when  the  major  on  his  blood 
horse  overtook  him,  and  directed  him  to  halt 
when  he  reached  the  ascent  of  the  hill,  in  order 
to  enable  the  other  companies  to  get  into  posi- 
tion. The  ridge,  as  the  elevation  was  generally 
called,  was  a  mile  in  length;  and  the  entire  field 
of  operations  extended  nearly  twelve  miles  north 
and  south,  and  more  than  half  that  from  east  to 
west. 

"You  have  chosen  just  the  plan  I  had  in  my 
head  when  I  had  taken  in  the  situation,  Major," 
said  Deck,  when  he  halted  his  command. 

"  It  does  not  seem  to  me  that  there  is  any 
other  way  to  arrange  it,"  replied  the  father. 
"A  part  of  General  Thomas  W.  Sherman's  in- 
trenchments  command  the  ridge;  but  I  don't 
think  his  guns  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  enemy,  though  that  bastion  is  in  his  line  on 
the  height." 

"But  even  from  its  salient  angle,  unless  the 
gun  can  send  a  ball  around  a  corner,  the  enemy 


A  CONCEALED   FOKCE   UNDEK   THE   EIDGE      455 

could  not  be  disturbed  if  they  keep  close  to  the 
hill,"  replied  Deck  with  a  smile. 

"  It  is  hardly  prudent  to  mount  the  hill." 

"Not  at  this  moment,  but  we  must  know 
what  there  is  on  the  other  side  of  it.  With 
your  permission  I  will  send  Lieutenant  Knox  to 
the  top  of  it,  for  he  is  a  very  skilful  scout." 

"  I  assent  to  that,"  added  the  major ;  and  Life 
was  summoned  by  Artie. 

"  We  want  to  know  what  there  is  on  the 
other  side  of  this  ridge,  Lieutenant,"  said  Deck, 
as  soon  as  he  came  forward. 

"I  will  scout  it  on  foot,  then,"  he  replied,  as 
he  dismounted,  and  handed  the  bridle-rein  to  the 
orderly. 

"Call  for  any  assistance  you  want,"  added  the 
captain. 

He  asked  for  Sergeant  Fronklyu  and  Corporal 
Milton,  and  the  three  ascended  the  ridge  to- 
gether on  foot.  As  they  reached  the  top  of  it, 
they  lay  down,  and  crawled  forward  like  so  many 
snakes,  till  they  could  see  down  the  steep  slope 
on  the  farther  side.  Close  to  the  succession  of 
knolls  that  formed  the  ridge,  they  discovered  the 


456  ON   THE    STAFF 

enemy,  consisting  of  two  batteries,  two  compa^ 
nies  of  cavalry,  and  a  regiment  of  infantry,  at 
least  fourteen  hundred  men. 

The  lieutenant  sent  Milton  down  to  report,  as 
hastily  as  possible,  to  the  major,  the  information 
already  obtained ;  while  he  remained  with  Fronk- 
lyn  to  watch  the  enemy,  for  it  was  evident .  to 
the  Kentuckian  that  some  unusually  large  move- 
ment was  in  progress.  The  major,  on  the  receipt 
of  this  report,  immediately  sent  a  note  in  pencil 
by  his  orderly  to  General  Woodbine,  and  two 
men,  one  to  each  end  of  the  ridge,  to  delay  the 
two  companies  he  had  sent  out  before. 

The  pencilled  note  brought  the  commander  of 
the  brigade  to  the  front  at  once,  and  behind  him 
thundered  Captain  Batterson's  battery ;  and  be- 
hind it  came  two  regiments  of  infantry  on  the 
double-quick.  The  general  had  hardly  reached 
the  position  of  the  major  at  the  head  of  the  first 
company  before  Sergeant  Fronklyn  came  leaping 
down  the  declivity  like  a  gazelle  or  a  mountain 
goat,  with  the  report  that  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  had  just  issued  from  the  intrenchments 
opposite,  near  the  line   of  the  Railroad. 


A  CONCEALED   FORCE   UNDER   THE   RIDGE       457 

Life  Knox  had  crawled  about  a  mile  on  the 
ground,  with  nearly  the  speed  of  the  fastest  snake 
in  the  world,  to  the  highest  point  on  the  ridge 
at  its  northern  extremity,  and  the  head  of  the 
force  could  be  seen  from  his  first  position.  It 
was  more  than  ever  evident  that  an  operation  of 
more  than  usual  magnitude  had  been  begun  by 
the  Confederates.  The  force  sent  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  early  morning  must  have  come  out  of 
the  intrenchments  on  the  Corinth  road,  and  had 
probably  waded  Phillips  Creek,  which  had  high 
banks  that  would  conceal  the  men,  and  had  left 
it  when  the  troops  reached  the  shelter  of  the 
ridge. 

It  could  not  be  understood  how  the  heavy  force 
burrowing  behind  the  ridge  could  have  reached 
this  locality  in  any  other  way,  without  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  watchful  sentinels  in  front  of 
the  intrenchments  of  Nelson  and  Crittenden.  But 
the  approaching  enemy  had  a  march  of  nearly  two 
miles  before  them  before  they  could  unite  with 
the  force  under  the  ridge.  The  general  had  not 
fairly  considered  the  situation,  when  Lieutenant 
Knox  came  like  the  rapid  serpent  down  the  steep, 


458  ON   THE   STAFF 

and  rushed  to  the  commander  of  brigade  as  soon 
as  he  discovered  him. 

"  I  hope  you  will  excuse  me,  General,  if  I  speak 
right  out,"  were  the  first  words  that  gushed  from 
the  stalwart  lieutenant's  mouth. 

"  Speak,  man  !  No  compliments  or  excuses  !  " 
replied  the  commander,  more  excited  than  Deck 
had  ever  seen  him  before. 

"  The  artillery  on  this  ridge  can  rake  the  enemy 
under  the  hill,  and  use  up  every  mother's  son  of 
them !  "  Life  belched  forth  in  a  loud  and  gushing 
tone.  "  The  force  on  the  other  side  of  the  ridge 
must  be  beaten  before  the  enemy  in  the  distance 
can  get  here !  " 

"Captain  Lyon,  march  your  first  company  up 
this  hill.  Lieutenant  Herndon,  order  up  Captain 
Batterson's  battery !  You  have  halted  the  sec- 
ond and  third  companies  at  the  ends  of  the 
ridge.  Major  Lyon ;  send  orders  to  them  to  en- 
gage the  enemy  at  once,"  said  General  Woodbine, 
so  decidedly  that  all  who  heard  him  realized 
that  he  knew  what  he  was  about. 

As  soon  as  the  messengers  had  departed,  he 
rode  up  the  ridge  himself,  attended  by  the  major 


A  CONCEALED   FOKCE   UNDER   THE   EIDGE       459 

and  the  remaining  staff-officer  of  the  former. 
Lieutenant  Herndon  had  returned,  closely  fol- 
lowed by  the  artillery.  The  general  had  selected 
the  most  available  path  for  the  battery,  and  then 
sent  Herndon  to  be  its  guide  up  the  steep.  It 
was  a  hard  passage,  and  the  horses  had  all  they 
could  do  to  haul  the  guns  and  caissons  up  the 
slope. 

The  commander  had  also,  as  soon  as  he 
reached  the  summit  of  the  hill,  selected  a  path 
for  the  descent  of  a  company  of  cavalry ;  and  he 
ordered  the  captain  of  the  first  company  to  go 
down,  and  to  engage  the  enemy  there  without 
a  moment's  delay,  as  he  saw  the  approach  of 
the  heavy  force  in  the  distance. 


460  ON   THE   STAFF 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

THE    LAST    ENGAGEMENT    AT    CORINTH 

Captain  Lyon  spoke  a  few  inspiring  words 
to  the  company,  and  then  dashed  down  the  slope ; 
but  he  looked  before  he  leaped.  The  elevation 
was  a  series  of  low  hills  ;  and  the  side  next  to 
Phillips  Creek  was  not  a  precipice,  not  a  head- 
long steep,  but  a  very  rough  descent  of  great 
height.  It  was  nothing  like  the  Horseneck, 
which  Putnam  went  down  in  the  Revolution, 
though  there  was  one  place  with  an  abrupt  fall 
of  about  three  feet. 

Deck  had  carefully  observed  and  studied  the 
force  below.  The  two  companies  of  cavalry  were 
at  the  right  and  left  of  the  lane ;  the  batteries 
were  next  to  them ;  and  the  infantry  were  in 
the  centre  of  the  line,  and  directly  below  the  path 
of  descent  which  the  general  had  indicated.  It 
was  therefore  this  arm  of  the  service  that  the 
young  officer  was  to  encounter. 


THE   LAST   ENGAGEMENT   AT   CORINTH       461 

As  they  kept  well  back,  the  enemy  below  could 
not  see  the  force  on  the  ridge.  General  Wood- 
bine had  been  more  alive  and  active  than  the 
officers  had  ever  seen  him  before.  The  space 
available  for  the  manoeuvres  of  the  troops  on  the 
elevation  was  generally  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  width,  with  a  full  half-mile  in  one  place.  He 
had  stationed  the  guns  in  four  different  places, 
at  as  many  indentations  of  the  slope,  where  pro- 
jecting angles  served  as  so  many  bastions.  The 
guns  were  pointed  at  a  sharp  angle  with  the 
length  of  the  ridge. 

Major  Lyon  had  signalled  the  second  and  third 
companies  of  his  force  to  engage  the  enemy  at 
either  end  of  the  ridge ;  but  Captain  Batterson 
had  fired  all  his  guns,  loaded  with  canister,  into 
the  mounted  force,  and  many  men  were  seen  to 
drop  from  their  horses,  the  discharge  producing 
no  little  confusion  in  their  ranks.  The  two  com- 
panies of  cavalry  then  charged  upon  the  enemy, 
and  the  fight  was  as  severe  as  had  ever  been  seen 
by  the  observers. 

Four  shells  from  the  guns  followed  the  canis- 
ter, sent  fairly  into  the   midst  of   the  infantry; 


462  ON   THE    STAFF 

and  in  this  moment  of  confusion  and  terror, 
Captain  Lyon  led  the  advance  of  the  first  com- 
pany down  the  slope.  The  abrupt  fall  was  at 
the  foot  of  the  descent ;  and  Ceph,  at  the  head 
of  the  column,  made  a  long  leap  into  a  section 
of  the  infantry  crouching  under  the  hill  to 
escape  the  destructive  shells.  The  engagement 
then  raged  all  along  the  line. 

The  horses  of  Deck's  command  had  all  been 
trained  to  the  kind  of  work  now  required  of 
them;  and  most  of  them  came  from  the  fine 
stock  of  Major  Lyon,  whose  plantation  was 
largely  devoted  to  the  raising  of  valuable  ani- 
mals. They  were  intelligent  creatures;  and  when 
Ceph  led  the  way  they  did  not  hesitate  to  follow 
him.  The  men  had  no  opportunity  to  use  their 
carbines  to  advantage  in  the  descent,  as  their 
horses  and  the  safety  of  their  persons  demanded 
all  their  attention  ;  but  as  soon  as  they  plunged 
into  the  midst  of  the  infantry  they  drew  their 
revolvers,  and  used  them  rapidly  as  the  soldiers 
scattered  from  the  effect  of  the  shell  that  had 
exploded  among  them. 

The  enemy's  officers  were  brave  men,  and  they 


THE   LAST   ENGAGEMENT   AT   CORINTH       463 

did  their  best  to  rally  the  men,  and  with  suc- 
cess in  some  instances ;  but  most  of  the  force 
ran  away  in  the  direction  of  the  creek.  But  for 
them  this  was  "out  of  the  frying-pan  into  the 
fire,"  for  a  fire  from  the  bastion  in  the  line  of 
General  T.  W.  Sherman  was  opened  upon  them. 
It  was  not  more  than  forty  rods  to  the  stream, 
and  they  leaped  into  it  in  hot  haste. 

But  the  officers  of  the  two  companies  on  the 
left,  which  had  been  out  of  reach  of  the  terrible 
shell,  rallied  their  men,  and  placed  them  in  posi- 
tion to  resist  cavalry,  when  they  had  fired  a 
volley,  before  which  several  of  the  Riverlawns 
went  down.  Deck  then  manceuvred  his  men, 
and  moved  them  out  into  the  open  space  be- 
tween the  ridge  and  the  creek.  Two  shells 
from  the  battery  on  the  elevation  were  dropped 
into  the  midst  of  the  infantry,  and  threw  them 
into  another  panic. 

While  they  were  in  this  condition  Deck 
charged  upon  them.  The  horses  had  been  espe- 
cially trained  in  this  manoeuvre,  for  bayonets 
are  an  ugly  weapon  to  confront:  but  the  captain 
wielded  his  sabre   with  tremendous  power ;    and 


464  ON   THE   STAFF 

the  infantry  could  not  stand  up  against  the 
leaping,  rearing,  and  plunging  horses,  and  they 
were  cut  down  and  overridden  till  they  were 
forced  back. 

Deck  managed  to  keep  inside  of  them,  near 
the  ridge ;  and  when  the  enemy  retreated  by 
command  of  their  officers,  the  guns  from  Sher- 
man's bastion  raked  them,  and  they  were  com- 
pelled to  retire  into  or  over  the  creek.  The 
heavy  force  that  came  out  of  the  Confederate 
intrenchments  near  the  railroad  advanced  with 
all  the  speed  they  could  command ;  and  a  tre- 
mendous roar  of  cannon  came  from  the  Union 
line  of  works,  before  which  it  presently  began 
to  wither.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy's  fire 
opened  all  along  their  line,  over  the  heads  of 
the  infantry,  apparently  directed  at  the  bastion 
at  the  angle  of  the  Federal  works;  for  it  was 
doing  a  great  deal  of  mischief  when  the  gunners 
could  discharge  the  pieces  without  endangering 
the  cavalry. 

Deck  had  worked  his  command  as  close  as 
he  could  to  the  ridge,  to  afford  the  heavier  ar- 
tillery of   the    bastion    an    opportunity  to  do  its 


THE   LAST   ENGAGEMENT   AT   CORINTH       465 

work.  This  raking  was  too  much  for  the  in- 
fantry or  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy;  for  Captains 
Truman  and  Richland  had  kept  their  commands 
as  near  the  ridge  as  possible,  so  that  Batterson's 
battery  on  the  elevation  could  work  the  guns, 
as  well  as  the  main  line  of  the  intrenchments. 

For  some  reason  which  the  observers  on  the 
Union  side  could  not  then  comprehend,  though 
they  understood  it  later,  the  advancing  force  be- 
yond the  creek  suddenly  wheeled  about,  and 
retreated  to  the  point  from  which  they  left  the 
intrenchments,  disappearing  from  the  view  of 
the  anxious  watchers.  When  this  was  done, 
the  force  near  the  ridge  followed  their  example, 
retreating  to  the  Corinth  road,  and  passing  into 
the  town. 

The  cavalry  companies  pursued  them  till  they 
were  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  Confederate 
works,  when  they  retired.  In  half  an  hour  all 
was  quiet  along  both  lines.  General  Woodbine 
had  sent  for  a  battalion  of  infantry,  and  set 
them  at  work  in  bearing  the  wounded  from  the 
field  to  the  hospital  in  the  rear;  and  the  enemy 
were    magnanimous    enough    not    to    fire    upon 


466  ON   THE    STAFF 

them,  as  they  descended  to  the  field  without 
arms. 

This  was  on  the  28  th  of  May,  and  the  two 
armies  had  been  facing  each  other  the  entire 
month.  The  engagement  that  occurred  this  day 
was  the  most  severe  that  had  occurred  near 
Corinth.  The  Federal  lines  had  been  pushed 
forward  till  General  Halleck  was  nearly  ready 
to  surround  the  enemy ;  and  it  had  become  neces- 
sary for  General  Beauregard  to  bring  on  a  general 
battle,  or  retreat  from  his  position. 

He  chose  the  latter  alternative ;  and  while  he 
was  making  this  demonstration,  though  the  larger 
force  that  came  out  of  his  line  was  intending  to 
recapture  a  position  on  the  right  wing,  he  was 
actually  sending  away  his  provisions  and  military 
stores  by  the  roads  to  the  south  and  west  of  Cor- 
inth, in  preparation  for  the  abandonment  of  his 
position.  He  regretted  the  necessity  of  leaving 
Corinth,  for  it  was  a  strong  place  as  fortified ;  but 
he  was  unwilling  to  stand  a  regular  siege  there, 
and  hoped  to  compensate  himself  for  the  loss  of 
it  by  other  advantages  he  saw  for  the  future. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  May  30,  repeated  ex- 


THE  LAST   ENGAGEMENT    AT   CORINTH       467 

plosions  in  Corinth  revealed  the  fact  that  the 
commander  of  the  Confederate  army  had  already- 
left  his  intrenchments,  or  was  then  doing  so.  A 
reconnaisance  verified  the  truth  of  the  supposi- 
tions that  the  enemy  had  withdrawn.  The  left 
wing  of  the  Union  army,  forty  thousand  in  num- 
ber, moved  in  pursuit;  and  four  divisions  of  the 
centre  followed  to  render  such  support  as  might 
be  needed.  Though  the  railroad  had  been  seri- 
ously damaged,  General  Beauregard  followed  it 
south  till  he  came  to  Okolona,  seventy  miles  dis- 
tant from  Corinth,  where  he  halted,  almost  sur- 
rounded by  swamps  and  lagoons.  Though  the 
national  cavalry  under  General  Granger  pursued 
him  about  thirty  miles,  they  were  unable  to  come 
up  with  the  rear  guard  of  the  retreating  army. 
Thus  the  campaign  of  Corinth  ended  without  a 
completed  siege  or  a  general  engagement. 

It  would  be  quite  impossible  to  trace  the  army 
movements  in  Tennessee  during  the  season  that 
followed.  General  Halleck  had  no  single  object 
upon  which  to  employ  his  grand  army,  and  it 
was  resolved  into  its  former  elements.  The 
force,    either   as    armies    or   divisions,    were    sent 


468  ON   THE   STAFF 

where  they  were  most  needed.  General  Beaure- 
gard was  succeeded  by  General  Bragg,  and  the 
Federal  commanders  were  somewhat  divided  in 
opinion  as  to  what  the  latter  intended  to  do. 
The  Confederate  army  was  also  cut  up  in  like 
manner. 

Chattanooga  was  a  very  important  point,  and 
this  and  East  Tennessee  engaged  the  attention 
of  the  generals  on  both  sides.  The  division  of 
General  Nelson  remained  a  fortnight  longer  in 
the  vicinity  of  Corinth,  and  was  then  set  at 
work  in  repairing  the  railroad.  The  cavalry 
had  employment  in  protecting  the  bridge-builders, 
and  a  false  rumor  that  the  fourth  division  was 
attacked  caused  a   delay  in  forward  movements. 

The  advance  was  resumed ;  and  the  army 
crossed  at  Florence  and  Decatur,  and  proceeded 
to  Athens,  Tennessee.  Supplies  fell  short;  and 
the  cavalry  was  employed  to  collect  food,  so  far 
as  the  poverty  of  the  country  would  permit. 
This  town  became  a  depot  for  supplies,  and  Gen- 
eral Nelson  Avas  ordered  to  assist  in  repairing  the 
Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad.  He  was 
then    sent   to  MacMinnville,  seventy  miles  from 


I 


THE   LAST   ENGAGEMENT  AT   CORINTH       469 

Athens.  Thus  the  division  was  moved  about 
until  the  middle  of  August,  when  General  Nelson 
was  superseded  by  General  Wright. 

The  extensive  raid  of  Morgan  had  greatly 
alarmed  the  citizens  of  Kentucky ;  and  the  fiery 
general  was  sent  back  to  his  native  State,  to 
organize  fresh  troops  for  its  defence.  Later  the 
situation  in  Kentucky  became  critical.  The  Con- 
federate raider  had  gone  through  the  State,  de- 
stroying vast  amounts  of  United  States  property, 
and  capturing  towns ;  and  it  was  believed  that 
both  General  Bragg  and  Kirby  Smith  were  mov- 
ing towards  it. 

In  this  emergency  Major  Lyon  was  made  a 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  placed  in  command  of 
the  three  companies  of  cavalry  and  the  battery, 
and  marched  to  Kentucky.  General  Woodbine's 
brigade  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  other 
companies  of  infantry,  and  he  was  ordered  to 
remain  at  MacMinnville.  Captain  Lyon  regretted 
greatly  to  part  with  Lieutenant  Herndon,  for 
they  had  become  fast  friends. 

Colonel  Lyon  and  all  his  command  regretted 
to  leave  the  brigade  of  General  Woodbine,  who 


470  ON  THE   STAFF 

had  always  been  their  strong  friend ;  and  they 
only  hoped  they  should  fall  into  his  command 
again.  The  colonel's  force  marched  by  the  most 
direct  route  to  Bowling  Green,  keeping  to  the 
eastward  of  Nashville,  and  going  by  the  way  of 
Gallatin.  The  command  was  to  report  their  ar- 
rival at  Munfordville.  It  left  Bowling  Green  in 
the  forenoon,  and  towards  night  it  came  to  the 
bridge  over  the  Green  River. 

Colonel  Lyon  decided  to  encamp  for  the  night 
on  the  lawn  by  the  stream.  He  was  at  his 
home  at  Riverlawn,  and  he  might  as  well  spend 
the  night  there  as  elsewhere.  After  the  camp 
had  been  laid  out,  and  the  tents  pitched,  the 
people  of  the  vicinity  gathered  around  it ;  but 
the  sentinels  would  not  permit  them  to  pass. 
The  companies  looked  soiled  and  tattered  com- 
pared with  their  former  appearance  in  their  new 
uniforms,  and  the  horses  were  rather  thin  in 
flesh. 

"  Whose  command  is  this  ? "  asked  a  stout 
man  of  fifty  or  more,  who  was  confronted  by  the 
sentinel. 

"Colonel  Lyon's,  from  Corinth    and    Athens." 


THE   LAST   ENGAGEMEMT   AT   CORINTH      471 

"  Colonel  Lyon  !  "  exclaimed  the  visitor.  "  I 
know  a  Major  Lyon,  who  owns  this  plantation." 

"  He  was  lately  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and  two  companies  are  called  the 
Riverlawn  Cavalry,"  added  the  trooper. 

"  By  all  that  is  great  and  mighty,  it  is  the 
major !  "  exclaimed  the  man.  "  I  must  see 
him!" 

"  No  one  can  pass  without  permission ;  but 
here  comes  the  colonel,  and  you  can  see  him 
here." 

The  commander  of  the  force  hurried  his  steps. 

"  Levi  Bedford !  "  cried  Colonel  Lyon,  as  he 
rushed  forward,  and  grasped  the  hand  of  the 
overseer.  "  How  are  they  all  at  the  mansion  ?  " 
asked  the  soldier,  who  had  not  heard  from  his 
family  for  a  considerable  length  of  time. 

"All  well  and  hearty,  and  not  one  of  them 
has  been  sick  a  day  since  you  went  away,"  re- 
plied Levi  Bedford,  still  holding  the  hand  of 
his  employer. 

"And  the  boys?" 

"  All  hearty ;  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  old 
Dummy   the    preacher   passed   away   two    weeks 


472  ON  THE   STAFF 

ago  yesterday.  We  didn't  know  what  this  force 
was,  and  I  reckon  the  folks  don't  know  you  are 
here.     But  how  is  Deck  ?  " 

"  In  excellent  health,  and  Captain  Lyon  will 
be  glad  to  see  his  mother  and  sisters." 

"Who's  Captain  Lyon?"  asked  the  overseer 
blankly, 

"  Dexter,"  replied  his  father. 

"  Good  gracious !  Deck  a  captain  !  What's 
Artie?" 

"  Nothing  but  a  private ;  but  he  is  my  or- 
derly, and  has  behaved  quite  as  well  as  his 
brother." 

Deck  and  Artie  and  Corporal  Sandy  Lyon 
came  along  then,  and  they  all  went  to  the 
mansion  together.  There  was  no  end  of  hug- 
ging, kissing,  and  hand-shaking,  which  lasted 
quite  half  an  hour.  They  were  all  amazed  that 
the  father  was  a  lieutenant-colonel,  and  the  son  a 
captain.  They  took  their  supper  in  the  man- 
sion, and  Diana  (not  Dinah)  and  the  two  quad- 
roon girls  were  as  glad  to  see  them  as  the 
members  of  the  family. 

After  supper   the    fifty  negroes,  men  and    wo- 


THE   LAST   ENGAGEMENT   AT   CORINTH      473 

men  and  children,  gathered  in  front  of  the  house 
by  the  light  of  a  bonfire,  and  welcomed  the  re- 
turn of  Mars'r  and  his  two  sons.  The  colonel 
and  the  captain  both  took  them  all  by  the  hand, 
and  they  were  blessed  up  to  the  seventh  heaven 
by  the  dusky  crowd.  While  this  ceremony  was 
in  progress.  Lieutenant  Tom  Belthorpe  presented 
himself  on  the  lawn,  and  wanted  Deck  to  go 
home  with  him.  There  was  a  mighty  attraction 
at  Colonel  Belthorpe's  mansion  for  him ;  and 
Frank,  the  coachman,  drove  them  over  in  the 
road-wagon. 

Of  course  the  family  were  all  delighted  to 
see  the  returned  son,  and  Kate  blushed  like  a 
June  rose  when  she  took  Deck's  hand  ;  and  after 
her  sister  Margie  had  kissed  the  young  captain, 
she  ventured  to  follow  her  example.  A  couple 
of  hours  were  passed  very  pleasantly,  in  an  ecs- 
tasy by  Deck ;  but  then  they  had  to  return  to 
the  camp. 

The  next  morning  the  march  was  resumed  to 
their  destination ;  and  here  we  must  leave  them 
for  a  time,  for  there  were  stirring  times  for  the 
command.     Their  experience  will   be    related   in 


474  ON   THE   STAFF 

another  volume;  and  those  who  are  interested  in 
Deck,  his  father,  his  brother,  and  others  who 
have  been  introduced,  will  find  a  continuation 
of  their  patriotic  work  in  the  succeeding  book, 
the  fifth,  and  last  but  one,  of  the  series,  entitled 
"At  The  Front." 


OLIVER   OPTICS  BOOKS 


Ull-Over-The-World  Library 

Illustrated    Per  Tolume  S1.35 


FIRST  SERIES 

A  MISSING  MILLION  or  The  Adventures  of  Louis  BeJgrave 

\  MILLIONAIRE  AT  SIXTEEN  or  The  Cruise  of  the  Guardian  mouk/ 
A  YOUNG  KNIGHT  ERRANT  or  Cruising  in  the  West  Indies 
STRANGE  SIGHTS  ABROAD  or  A  Vojage  in  European  Waters 


SECOND   SERIES 

THE  AMERICAN  BOYS  AFLOAT  or  Cruising  in  the  Orient 
THE  YOUNG  NAVIGATORS  or  The  Foreign  Cruise  of  the  Maud 
UP  AND  DOWN  THE  NILE  or  Young  Adventurers  in  Africa 
ASIATIC  BREEZES  or  Students  on  the  Wing  (in  press) 


"  The  bare  announcement  of  a  new  series  of  books  by  Oliver  Optic  will 
delight  boys  all  over  the  country.  When  they  farther  learn  that  their 
favorite  author  proposes  to  '  personally  conduct '  his  army  of  readers  on 
a  grand  tour  of  the  world,  there  will  be  a  terrible  scramble  for  excursion 
tickets  —  that  is,  the  opening  volume  of  the  '  Globe  Trotting  Series.'  Of 
one  thing  the  boys  may  be  dead  sure,  it  will  be  no  tame,  humdrum  jour- 
ney, for  Oliver  Optic  does  not  believe  that  fun  and  excitement  are 
injurious  to  boys,  but,  on  the  contrary,  if  of  the  right  kind  he  thinks  it 
does  them  good.  Louis  Belgrave  is  a  fortunate  lad,  because,  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  he  was  the  possessor  of  a  cool  million  of  dollars.  No  one,  not 
even  a  young  boy,  can  travel  without  money,  as  our  author  well  knows, 
therefore  he  at  once  provided  a  liberal  supply.  Louis  is  a  fine  young 
fellow  with  good  principles  and  honor,  so  he  can  be  trusted  to  spend  his 
million  wisely.  But  he  does  not  have  entirely  smooth  sailing.  In  the 
first  place  he  has  a  rascally  step-father  whom  he  had  to  subjugate,  a  dear 
mother  to  protect  and  care  for,  and  the  missing  million  to  flrui  before  he 
could  commence  his  delightful  travels.  They  are  all  accomplished  at 
last,  and  there  was  plenty  of  excitement  and  brave  exploits  in  the  doing 
of  them,  as  the  boy  readers  will  find.  The  cover  design  *hows  many 
things — a  globe,  the  Eiffel  tower,  mountains,  seas,  rivers,  castles  and 
other  things  Louis  will  see  on  his  travels.—  Current  Revie'». 


LEE  AND  SHEPARD  Publishers  Boston 


OLIVER  OPTICS  BOOKS. 


ARMY  AND  NAVY  STORIES, 

Six  Volumes.    Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.25. 


1.  THE  SOLDIER  BOY; 

Or,  Tom  Somers  in  the  Army. 

2.  THE  SAILOR  BOY; 

Or,  Jack  Somers  in  the  Navy. 

3    THE  YOUNG   LIEUTENANT; 

Or,  Adventures  of  an  Army  Officer 

4.  THE  YANKEE  MIDDY; 

Or,  Adventures  of  a  Navy  Officer. 

6.  FIGHTING  JOE; 

Or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Staff  Offiiier 

6.  BRAVE  OLD  SALT; 

Or,  Life  on  the  (Quarter-Deck. 


This  series  of  six  volumes  recounts  the  adventures  of  two 
brothers,  Tom  and  Jack  Somers,  one  in  the  armj^  the  other  in 
the  navy,  in  the  great  civil  war.  The  romantic  narratives  of 
the  fortunes  and  exploits  of  the  brothers  are  thrilling  in  the 
extreme.  Historical  accuracy  in  the  recital  of  the  greati 
events  of  that  period  is  strictly  followed,  and  the  result  is 
not  only  a  librarj'  of  entertaining  volumes,  but  also  the  bt»'"t 
history  of  the  civil  war  for  young  people  ever  written. 


OLIVER   OPTICS  BOOKS. 


YOUNG    AMERICA   ABROAD. 

FIRST    SERIES. 

\.  IiijM«ry  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Liands.    16bio. 

Illustrated  by  Wast,  Stevens,  Perkins,  and  ottiern. 

Per  volume,  $1.^5. 


1.  OUTWARD  BOUND; 

Or,  Young  America  Afloat. 

2.  SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE; 

Or,  Yonug  America  in  Ireland  and  Scotland. 

3.  RED  CROSS; 

Or.  Young  America  in  England  and  Wales. 

4.  DIKES  AND  DITCHES; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Holland  and  Belgium. 

5.  PALACE  AND  COTTAGE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  France  and  Switzerland. 

tJ.  DOWN  THE  RHINE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Germany. 


Th&  atoiy  from  its  inception  and  through  the  twelve  voi 
ames  \6qq  Second  Series) ,  is  a  bewitching  one,  while  the  in- 
formation imparted,  concerning  the  countries  of  Europe  and 
the  isles  of  the  sea,  is  not  only  correct  in  every  particular,  but 
is  told  in  a  captivating  style.  "  Oliver  Optic  "  will  continue, 
to  be  the  boy's  friend,  and  his  pleasant  books  will  continue  to 
be  read  by  thousands  of  American  boys.  What  a  fine  holiday 
present  either  or  both  series  of  "  Young  America  Abroad" 
would  be  for  a  young  friend  !  It  would  make  a  little  librarj 
highly  prized  b}^  the  recipient,  and  would  Mot  be  an  expensiv-« 
one.  —  Providence  Press. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD 

SECOND    SERIES. 

A.  Xiibrary  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Liands.    16mo. 

Illustrated,  by  JVast,  Stevens,  Perkins,  and  others. 

Per  volume,  $1.35. 


1.  UP  THE  BALTIC; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Norway,  Sweden,  and 
Denmark. 

2.  NORTHERN   LANDS; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Russia  and  Prassia. 

3.  CROSS  AND  CRESCENT; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Turkey  and  Greece. 

4.  SUNNY  SHORES? 

Or,  Young  America  in  Italy  and  Austria. 

5.  VINE  AND  OLIVE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Spain  and  Portugal. 

6.  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA; 

Or,  Youug  America  Homeward  Bound. 


"  Oliver  Optic  "  is  a  worn  de  plume  that  is  known  and  loved 
by  £>imost  every  boy  of  intelligence  in  the  land.  "We  have 
seen  a  highly  intellectual  and  world-weary  man,  a  cynic  whose 
heart  was  somewhat  imbittered  by  its  large  experience  of 
human  nature,  take  up  one  of  Oliver  Optic's  books  and  read 
it  at  a  sitting,  neglecting  his  work  in  yielding  to  the  fascina- 
tion of  the  pages.  "When  a  mature  and  exceedingly  well- 
informed  mind,  long  despoiled  of  all  its  freshness,  can  thua 
find  pleasure  in  a  book  for  boys,  no  additional  words  of  rea- 
ommendatioii  are  needed.  —  Sundav  Times, 


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BROTHER  AGAINST   BROTHER 
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THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

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NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

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17 


I 


M'^^^. 


p^.-a 


